Vice President JD Vance has raised concerns about potential NFL favoritism toward the Kansas City Chiefs following the engagement of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce to pop superstar Taylor Swift. During an interview with USA Today, Vance, who supports the Cincinnati Bengals, urged league officials to maintain impartiality and avoid ‘putting a thumb on the scale’ for the Chiefs, highlighting fears that the league might capitalize on the high-profile union.
Vance, who maintains a strict boundary between politics and entertainment, stated that ‘people want politicians to focus on politics, and they want celebrities to focus on whatever it is that made them famous.’ However, he offered personal congratulations to the newly engaged couple, expressing hope for their future happiness. The remarks came amid growing scrutiny of NFL officiating, including controversial calls during the Chiefs’ victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game.
The game, which saw two contentious plays, reignited debates about referee bias. During the game, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s fourth-down conversion was debated for its accuracy, and Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s reception against Bills safety Cole Bishop also raised questions about officiating. These incidents, along with similar controversies in previous matchups, have fueled speculation about potential NFL favoritism. The NFL referees union and Commissioner Roger Goodell have both denied conspiracy theories, with Goodell labeling the notion as ‘ridiculous’ and the referees association calling such claims ‘insulting and preposterous.’
Additionally, other recent incidents in the Chiefs’ games, including a controversial third-down penalty against Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. and an unnecessary roughness call on Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, have added to the scrutiny. Despite the league’s reassurances, many fans remain skeptical about the integrity of officiating, raising questions about the fairness of the game and the role of high-profile players in influencing official decisions.