The Chiefs have found themselves another superstar—and no, it’s not a wideout. It’s Taylor Swift. Arrowhead has never been shy about volume, but this season, the loudest cheers might not be for Mahomes. Ever since Swift started showing up in a No. 87 jersey and cheering from the box next to Donna Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs have become more than a dynasty—they’re a spectacle. And now, in true Swift fashion, the team that’s always in the headlines just picked up another W. The Cowboys got left standing in the hallway. The Chiefs, along with Swift? Already inside, hosting the party.

On the May 15 episode of Up & Adams, host Kay Adams and NFL exec Mike North sat down for what was supposed to be a serious conversation about the 2024 schedule release. But when you’re talking Chiefs and pop culture, one name is bound to surface. Kay made a fair point, saying that if fans hear ‘pop culture’ and ‘Chiefs’ in the same sentence, the resulting image would be of Taylor Swift. She said. “People are going to assume it’s Taylor Swift.” Fair point. Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce turned Arrowhead into a rom-com set last season, and now, even league insiders are playing along with the bit.

Mike North, in full tongue-in-cheek mode, jokingly invited the global pop icon to a game—but with one condition. “And if Taylor wants to come, we’ll make sure. And if you want to sing, that’s good, too. We need an anthem,” he said with a grin. The comment was playful, but telling. Even within official NFL circles, Swift’s presence isn’t just tolerated—it’s welcomed, with open arms and open mics.

But while Mike North was all jokes and cheer when talking Taylor Swift, the tone shifted once Jerry Jones and the Cowboys came up. That light, gal-pal energy? Gone. In its place? A subtle jab wrapped in scheduling talk. 

Jerry Jones gets benched by Mike North

The NFL dropped its 2024 schedule this week, and to absolutely no one’s surprise, the Kansas City Chiefs once again stole the spotlight. Seven primetime games. Eight standalone matchups. Five of those in just the first eight weeks. The defending champs aren’t easing into the season—they’re taking center stage from Week 1. They’ll headline Thanksgiving Day against the Cowboys in Dallas. They got the games the league saves for its box office draws.

So what used to be the Cowboys’ playground now feels like Chiefs territory. The trophies prove it. The scheduling confirms it. And as the lights shine brighter on Mahomes, Reid, and Kelce, Jerry Jones has to watch from one slot behind. The handoff of NFL royalty has already happened—it just took a few calendar releases to make it official.

But that Cowboys game? That came with a bit of a dig. Mike North didn’t hold back when asked about America’s Team. “Anybody who’s been watching football for the last few years knows the Chiefs have almost kind of surpassed the Cowboys as the bell cow,” he said. Translation: Kansas City’s the league’s top draw now, not Dallas. And while the Cowboys still have their usual glitzy windows, including Thanksgiving, they trail the Chiefs in primetime matchups. Seven to six. Close, but not close enough.

That came through loud and clear when Mike North broke down the league’s reasoning. And his answer was pretty simple: nobody should be shocked. “I don’t think the Chiefs were surprised. I don’t think the Chiefs fans are surprised,” North said. And why would they be?

The Chiefs have won three of the last six Super Bowls. Their record last season? 15–2. They tore through the AFC West and beat both the Texans and Bills en route to another ring. That’s not just dominance—it’s dynasty. As North put it, “That puts you into a non-routine scheduling formula.” In other words, they’ve outgrown the Sunday noon window.