Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce may have announced their engagement on Tuesday afternoon but the Kansas City Chiefs star’s father spilled the beans on when his son actually proposed.
Ed Kelce told a local Cleveland TV station that the three-time Super Bowl champion proposed about two weeks ago. The photos posted on Swift’s Instagram account showed the tight end down on one knee, surrounded by flowers in a garden setting.
Taylor Swift hugs Ed Kielce after the AFC Championship NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Jan. 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.(Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
“Travis actually did the proposal, oh, maybe two weeks, not quite two weeks ago,” Ed Kelce told News 5 Cleveland on Tuesday. “He was going to put it off ‘til this week. I think she was getting maybe a little antsy, but he was going to put her off ‘til this week, to, you know, make some grand thing, to make it a big special event.
“And I told him repeatedly, you know, you could do it on the side of the road, do it any place that makes it a special event … when you get down on one knee and ask her to marry you.”
Ed Kelce said that Travis proposed in a garden in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Taylor Swift laughs while talking to Ed Kelce (Travis Kelce’s father) during the second half of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.(Denny Medley/USA TODAY Sports)
“He got her out there, they were about to go out to dinner, and he said, ‘Let’s go out and have a glass of wine.’ … They got out there, and that’s when he asked her, and it was beautiful,” he added. “They started FaceTiming me and their mother and her folks to make sure everybody knew. So, to see them together is great.”
Ed Kelce said he was at Philadelphia Eagles practice when he received the call. The beaming father couldn’t have been happier for his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law.
Kelce and Swift’s relationship had been a focal point of the NFL season since she showed up to Arrowhead Stadium to support the Chiefs tight end against the Chicago Bears. Since then, Swift routinely attended games in Kansas City and was there two years ago to watch the Chiefs go to the Super Bowl.
Taylor Swift walks off the field with Ed Kelce (2nd-R) after a game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium on Jan. 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.(Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
In their past three seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have accumulated a 39–12 regular-season record and appeared in two Super Bowls. After narrowly falling by their hands in 2022, the Birds humiliated Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs en route to their second Lombardi Trophy win last winter.
These accomplishments alone have the Eagles on the brink of a dynasty—another title would surely put them there. Given the team’s assortment of game-breaking talent, they might be in luck.
Eagles’ Returning Game-Breakers
General manager Howie Roseman has done such an excellent job adding talent to the Eagles that it’s hard to put into words. He built what many called a “superteam” in 2022, but only improved the roster over the next couple of seasons.
But let’s stick with the players who oversaw both Super Bowls. Starting with Jalen Hurts, he’s one of the premier dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL—immense rushing upside and one of the most efficient passers in the sport. He’s not necessarily the most gifted, but he gets high-end results. When the Eagles have needed him to perform the most, that’s often when he has shone the brightest.
Then, you have the offensive line. Landon Dickerson deserves a shootout here, but tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are definitely in that “game-breaking” tier. Recognized as two of the best exterior linemen in the sport, they make the offense’s life easier by consistently and emphatically winning their assignments.
Next, wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have been one of the league’s top one-two punches for a few years now. Coming up clutch in late-down situations and with huge contested-catch upside, they’ve flipped games on their head. Both have fourth-down snags to their name in the NFC Championship, leading to a momentum-altering touchdown a short while later.
Eagles’ “New” Game-Breakers
Over the past couple of seasons, the Eagles have added three game-breaking talents: Saquon Barkley, Zack Baun, and Jalen Carter. Their two recently drafted cornerbacks may get there (if they haven’t arrived already), but those are the big three who the Birds would’ve had no chance in 2024 without.
PHOTO: Eagles Nation on X
Barkley’s impact is self-explanatory. Setting the NFL record for rushing yards in a single season (2,504), he rushed about 1,000 yards over what would have been considered a huge win for the Birds. Winning games early in the season virtually by himself, and taking long-distance runs to the house in the playoffs, the MVP love he got was deserved.
Baun was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate last season. He was the nucleus of that core, preventing big rushes and forcing turnovers at the most pivotal moments. For a team that often struggled in both of those areas before his arrival, he changed the game for the Birds.
Finally, we have Carter. Already one of the most feared defensive linemen in the league, the 24-year-old should have about a decade of game-breaking football. His most influential play came on a third-down sack of Matthew Stafford in the NFC Divisional Round in January. With the Los Angeles Rams on the verge of a last-second go-ahead touchdown, the youngster saved the day and the Eagles’ season.
The Eagles have something special here. With eight game-breaking talents on the roster (if not more), their excellence can be felt every week. It’s why Philadelphia’s hopes of yet another Super Bowl title are quite realistic.
The San Francisco 49ers agreed to a deal to acquire receiver Skyy Moore from the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday.
A person familiar with the trade said the teams will swap sixth- and seventh-round picks in 2027 in the deal that sends Moore to San Francisco. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade can’t be finalized until Moore passes a physical.
Moore was drafted by Kansas City in the second round in 2022 but hasn’t produced much in his first three seasons. He had 43 catches for 494 yards and one TD in 36 games. He didn’t catch a single pass last season because of a a core muscle injury.
Moore did catch a TD pass in the fourth quarter of Kansas City’s 38-35 win in the Super Bowl against Philadelphia following the 2022 season.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 17: Skyy Moore #24 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on prior to a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
/ Getty Images
Moore had an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a preseason game last Friday at Seattle. The 49ers have gone 227 consecutive regular-season games without a punt return touchdown for the second longest active drought in the NFL.
The Niners were in dire need of healthy receivers. Brandon Aiyuk is working his way back from major knee surgery and isn’t expected to be able to play until at least Week 6, while fellow starter Jauan Jennings has been out for most of training camp with a calf injury.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday on his radio show that Demarcus Robinson is facing a three-game suspension, pending appeal, after pleading no contest last month to a misdemeanor DUI charge.
Rookie Jordan Watkins is out with a high ankle sprain and second-year pro Jacob Cowing is nursing a hamstring injury. Cowing hurt his hamstring the first day of training camp and returned to practice last week. Cowing tweaked the injury on Tuesday and missed practice Wednesday.
Christopher Thomas stalked and harassed Samantha Stites for more than a decade
He ultimately kidnapped and raped her in October 2022
The case is the subject of Hulu’s docuseries Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror, which premiered on Aug. 19
Christopher Thomas relentlessly stalked Samantha Stites for more than 10 years before abducting her in October 2022.
After they first met in 2011, Thomas began sending frequent messages to Stites, even after she told him to leave her alone. Thomas then escalated to following Stites wherever she went, including showing up at her job when her grandmother died.
“It was the first real experience where someone knows what my wishes are very clearly and doesn’t care,” she recalled in the docuseries.
Thomas’ terrifying behavior culminated in kidnapping Stites from her home near Traverse City, Mich., and raping her in a soundproof bunker. The case is the subject of the new ABC News true crimedocuseriesStalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror, which premiered on Aug. 19 on Hulu.
So, what happened to Christopher Thomas? Here’s everything to know about where he and Samantha Stites are now — plus, how her case may impact stalking victims going forward.
Who is Samantha Stites?
Samantha Stites/Instagram
Samantha Stites in August 2022.
Stites was born on Nov. 23, 1991, and grew up in Elk Rapids, Mich. Stites was raised by a single mom who worked in restaurants and bars to make ends meet.
Stites describes herself in the docuseries as a person who “[wants] to be welcoming and kind.” Stites’ friends added that she is an avid soccer player with a dark sense of humor who tries to make everyone around her feel included.
The Michigan native told PEOPLE in August 2025 that she loves biking, kayaking and hiking. Stites is also a fan of the Detroit Lions, the Kansas City Chiefs and the WNBA, she said.
Stites graduated from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., with her bachelor’s degree in social work in 2014. She later earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Kansas in 2019, per her LinkedIn.
Who is Christopher Thomas?
Michigan Department of Corrections
Christopher Blaine Thomas’s mugshot.
Thomas was born Christopher Blaine Thomas on Aug. 15, 1984. According to The Huron Daily Tribune, Thomas was born and raised in Gladwin, Mich., where his family still resides.
Stites met Thomas in 2011 after he joined a campus Christian group, of which she was a member.
“I saw him at different events the Christian group was doing. He friended me on Facebook one day. At first I thought he was just lonely and for some reason saw me as an approachable person to talk to,” she recalled in Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror.
In the docuseries, Stites’ roommate Charissa Hayden described Thomas as a “nobody that [Stites] met in college — like a sad, lonely guy.” Stites said her first impression of Thomas wasn’t that memorable beyond him being “six to eight years older” than her and seeming “very socially awkward.”
Stites and her friends didn’t know it at the time, but two years earlier in 2009, Thomas had stalked a college student named Kelli (whose last name is withheld in the docuseries). The two first met at a residential treatment facility where she worked.
Kelli said Thomas began asking her out on dates and following her on her school’s campus, even though he wasn’t a student there. After Kelli spotted him outside of her home, she got a personal protective order (PPO) against him, but he kept driving past her house.
Thomas was eventually convicted of one count of stalking and was sentenced to two years of probation, according to the docuseries.
How long did Christopher Thomas stalk Samantha Stites?
Thomas stalked Stites for 13 years.
He began messaging Stites on Facebook within days of meeting her in 2011 and repeatedly asked her on dates. Each time, Stites politely but firmly declined his advances.
Thomas continued to message her and followed her at her job, at school, while she was out with friends and at frisbee practice. Stites recalled Thomas saying that he once “saw red and beat someone up,” causing her to fear his temper.
In 2014, Stites was accepted to a ministry internship in Kansas City, Mo. Thomas enrolled in the same program, causing Stites to realize that he had been stalking her for the past three years. On Sept. 18, 2014, Stites filed a petition for a restraining order against Thomas, per the docuseries.
“I was really concerned. I’ve never seen a stalking case as severe as this,” Norman Hayes, a retired Michigan judge, said in Stalking Samantha. “He was absolutely obsessed with her, he’s going to do something very severe — either rape, kill her, kidnap her. If you looked up ‘stalker’ in the dictionary, there’d be a picture of Christopher.”
Hayes granted Stites a protective order against Thomas for six years, and her life largely went back to normal: Thomas’ internship offer was revoked and he left her alone. She went to graduate school in Kansas, became a licensed social worker and bought a house in her hometown.
However, as soon as the PPO expired in September 2020, Thomas started following Stites again, even joining the same recreational soccer league.
Stites filed a petition for a new PPO in July 2022. Judge Kevin A. Elsenheimer denied the PPO due to a “complicated relationship” between Thomas and Stites, she said in the docuseries.
What did Christopher Thomas do to Samantha Stites?
ABC
Samantha Stites in ‘Stalking Samantha.’
In the early morning hours of Oct. 7, 2022, Thomas broke into Stites’ apartment. He jumped on top of her and choked her in her bed, then put her hands in cuffs, bound her feet and put a ballgag in her mouth, which he secured with duct tape around her head, she said in the docuseries.
Thomas then took Stites from her home and put her in her own car.
“Once we leave my house, the likelihood of me surviving this experience goes down drastically,” she recalled thinking in the docuseries. “This really becomes a fight for my life.”
Thomas blindfolded Stites and began driving, but because she was familiar with the neighborhood, she counted the turns he made in an effort to figure out their destination, Stites said. Thomas took her to a bunker he’d built inside of a storage unit that had a mattress on the floor and soundproof panels on the walls.
Thomas told Stites he planned to leave her paddleboard near Lake Michigan so anyone looking for her would assume she drowned, she said in Stalking Samantha. He then bragged about putting trackers on her car and the cars of several of her friends, adding that the Netflix series You inspired his bunker idea.
Stites said she knew her best chance to stay alive would be to remain as calm as possible. When Thomas told her he was terrified of going to prison, she told him that if he let her go, she wouldn’t call the police — and that as a social worker, she was good at keeping secrets.
Thomas refused to let Stites go unless he could rape her. After initially refusing, she agreed if he’d bring her home that evening, she said in the docuseries.
“I know enough about Christopher to know his integrity is important to him, and I was banking on that,” she said.
Thomas then raped Stites for several hours, she said.
How did Samantha Stites escape?
After he raped her, Thomas took Stites back home.
Knowing he still had a tracker on her car, Stites called a neighbor to drive her to the hospital, where she underwent a rape kit. While hospitalized, she spoke to Detective Mike Matteucci of the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office about what she saw and remembered. When discharged, a friend picked Stites up and let her stay at her home.
“As social workers, we take courses on crisis intervention,” Stites told PEOPLE. “I happen to always have been one who can think and act very clearly — some people will freeze, others kind of panic. That’s something I had always had in the background, just my DNA. I’m usually somebody who you know can deal with a crisis in a calm manner, but I think definitely my training and education helped contribute to quick thinking and knowing what I should do.”
Stites’ attention to detail aided police in arresting Thomas at his apartment and finding his bunker that night.
Officers searched Thomas’ house the night of his arrest and found the ballgag, handcuffs, receipts and boxes from GPS trackers, which he claimed Stites put on her own car. They also found countless photos and videos of Stites on his devices going back more than a decade.
Thomas first told officers he was hunting in the woods at the time of the kidnapping, then said that the abduction was actually “role-playing gone too far.”
Thomas was arraigned on Oct. 10, 2022, on one count of kidnapping, first degree home invasion, torture and aggravated stalking and four counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct, per the docuseries. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was denied bail.
Where is Christopher Thomas now?
In December 2023, Thomas agreed to plead guilty to his kidnapping, torture aggravated stalking and home invasion charges in exchange for prosecutors dropping the four counts of criminal sexual conduct, per the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Judge Elsenheimer — the same judge who denied Stites’ second PPO petition — sentenced Thomas to 40 to 60 years in prison in February 2024, per the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
During his sentencing, Elsenheimer told him, “If somehow you are released at some point in your future, then it is a requirement that you will have a lifetime GPS so that we will know where you are all the time for the rest of your days.”
Thomas is serving his sentence at Bellamy Correctional Facility in Ionia, Mich. His earliest possible release date is Oct. 7, 2062, per his Michigan Department of Corrections profile.
“Christopher’s in a place where the worst of the worst people are,” Matteucci said in the docuseries. “He needs to be there. To do something like that to another human being, I just don’t understand it.”
Thomas’ sentence came as a huge relief for Stites.
“It just felt like I was kind of holding my breath for a year and a half — you know, thinking, ‘If, for some reason, somehow this person escapes jail, they’re in the local community,’ ” she recalled to PEOPLE. “Since I felt like the system had let me down previously, was that going to happen again?”
She continued, “When all was said and done, I was pleased with the outcome. There’s an element of safety I have now knowing that this person isn’t going to harm others or myself now.”
Where is Samantha Stites now?
Samantha Stites/Instagram
Samantha Stites with her dog in February 2023.
The trauma of her kidnapping and assault drove Stites to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and seek short- and long-term disability from her job as a social worker. She estimates she has lost $40,000 in wages, per her victim impact statement, which she posted on Instagram.
Stites has also moved out of her house and invested in extra security for her new home.
“There’s a huge financial and physical burden to stalking,” she told PEOPLE. “I clearly wasn’t able to stay in that house where I had been kidnapped, you know? I had to move, and was feeling like, ‘How do I protect myself? What if somebody stalks me again?’ “
Even though Thomas is in prison, Stites has continued to feel unsafe. “I think there’s an element with sharing my story too that makes you feel uneasy, because now there’s all this attention, people can be crazy online,” she said. “Is somebody going to attach to me again? How do I protect myself through the future?”
Since moving out, Stites since found and spruced up a new home, which she shares with her dog, Murphy, a cat and foster pets. She enjoys sports and has continued her career as a social worker, per her LinkedIn.
Stites is sharing her story in hopes of reducing the shame that survivors of sexual assault, stalking and abduction face.
“Talking to different survivors I’ve met, no matter what their story is, there’s always something that they feel like [they] could’ve or should have [done differently], and it’s tough,” she said. “I think about how much I benefited from hearing other stories and feeling less alone. [It’s part of] my attempt to try to make a change in the way the PPO process is done and help advocate for other survivors.”
Stites and her friend Robin Treiweiler have also launched Beekeepers Advocacy, a survivor-led organization to protect victims of stalking, domestic abuse and abduction.
As a result of her case, the Grand Traverse County Court changed their PPO policy to ensure that if the petitioner mentions a previous PPO in their filing, court staff overseeing the petition must find out details of the previous order, per UpNorthLive.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
Taylor Swift appeared to have set the standard when it comes to dating professional athletes.
Olivia Dunne, a national champion former gymnast at LSU, told Page Six in a recent interview that she’s looking to the pop star when it comes to navigating that world. Dunne is in a relationship with Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes.
Olivia Dunne on the field before a game between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field.(Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
But unlike Swift and Travis Kelce’s start, Dunne and Skenes had some familiarity with each other as they both went to LSU.
“(Taylor) has her boyfriend that’s a professional athlete and my boyfriend is a professional athlete as well,” she told the outlet. “And she has her own success and I have my own success, so I try to look at her perspective on things and how she handles criticism, how she navigates.”
Dunne said trying to date a pro athlete is its own beast because they’re always traveling, among the other challenges that come with it.
In Swift’s case, she’s presently the most popular recording artist in the world but she did receive some boos from NFL fans at Super Bowl LIX this past February.
Taylor Swift, left, and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce walk off the field after the trophy ceremony following the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 26, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.(Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“I think that she takes the heat a lot worse than I do, because, I mean, the bigger you are, the more people you have trying to tear you down,” Dunne added to Page Six. “It just really resonated with me. It’s a unique position to be in. And I think for some people, women in sports is uncomfortable for some reason.”
The dating life is far from the only thing that Dunne looks up to Swift for. She noted that the music icon seems to be dominating nearly every aspect of life at 35 years old.
“I admire her in so many different ways. Her work ethic, how much she cares about what she puts out there and how the meaning behind everything is very admirable.”
Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Livvy Dunne pose for a photo during the 2025 All-Star Red Carpet Show presented by Deer Park at Battery Ave on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek.
He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series.
His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_.
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One of the Kansas City Chiefs’ promising young defensive players suffered a major career setback on Monday.
The Chiefs, who fell one win shy of becoming the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions last season, had one of the top defensive units in the league.
Kansas City ranked fourth in scoring defense (19.2 points allowed per game) and ninth in total defense (320.6 yards allowed per game), but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have to replace a big hole on his defensive line after it was revealed the team will be without 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah for the entire season.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah #97 of the Kansas City Chiefs sacks Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Felix Anudike-Uzomah #97 of the Kansas City Chiefs sacks Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. David Eulitt/Getty Images
“Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the Chiefs’ 1st-round pick in 2023, will be placed on injured reserve with a right strained hamstring, per the team,” ESPN’s Nate Taylor wrote on X on Monday. “His season ends before the preseason finale.”
Anudike-Uzomah started three games last season, logging 27 tackles, 14 pressures, seven hurries, six tackles for loss, four QB hits, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, according to Pro Football Focus.
He ranked fifth among defensive linemen in pressures and hurries, and he was expected to play a much larger role this season.
Travis Kelce said his brother Jason Kelce was defending his family when he reacted to a heckling fan Saturday by slamming the fan’s phone onto the ground. The brothers discussed the incident, which led to a Penn State police investigation and included Jason exchanging a homophobic slur with the fan, on an episode of their “New Heights Podcast” released Wednesday.
“I know it’s weighing on you, brother. … Everybody passing around the videos that are out there. That’s gonna make it a bigger situation than, I think, what it really is,” Travis said on the podcast.
“But the real situation is you had some f— clown come up to you and talk about your family and you reacted in a way that was defending your family. And you might have used some words that you regret using. And that’s a situation that where you just kinda have to learn from and own.”
Jason, a former Philadelphia Eagles center, was in State College to appear on “College GameDay,” which was in town for Saturday’s matchup between Penn State and Ohio State. While outside Beaver Stadium, a fan walking behind Jason can be heard on video using a homophobic slur regarding the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis. The fan said: “Kelce, how does it feel that your brother is a fa— for dating Taylor Swift?”
Jason then turned around and appeared to take the phone of the fan who said the slur and throw it on the ground. The fan demanded Jason give him the phone back and Jason responded: “Who’s the fa— now?”
Jason Kelce previously addressed the incident on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” and said he was “not proud of it.” On the podcast, he expressed further remorse, saying he’s “not happy about the situation.”
“Me reacting gave him the time of day and it also gave the situation notoriety,” Jason said. “That’s what I regret. It didn’t deserve attention. It’s really stupid. And if I just keep walking, it’s a nothing burger. Nobody sees it. Now it’s out there and it just perpetuates more hate.
“The thing I regret the most is saying that word, to be honest with you. The word (the fan) used, it’s just ridiculous and it takes it to another level. … It’s dehumanizing and it got under my skin.”
Travis commended his brother for “owning” the situation, telling Jason that “speaking about it shows how sincere you are to a lot of people in this world.”
“Especially what you said on Monday night that you … you don’t choose hate. That’s just not who you are,” Travis said.
A Penn State University Police and Public Safety spokesperson confirmed Tuesday the department is investigating the incident and the process for reviewing the case is ongoing.
Required reading
(Photo of Jason and Travis Kelce: Rob Carr / Getty Images)
The family of a San Francisco 49ers player is mourning after the death of their 1-year-old daughter.Charvarius Ward posted on social media Tuesday saying his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy, died Monday morning.”She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward said in the statement. The 49ers issued a statement Tuesday saying, “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy. Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.”We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”Ward’s Instagram account @itslilmooney shows two photos of Amani Joy, including one posted on March 21, World Down Syndrome Day. Amani Joy was born on Nov. 17, 2022 with Trisomy 21, Ward said in the post. Ward’s update on Tuesday said Amani Joy overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.”Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better,” Ward said. “She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”
SAN FRANCISCO —
The family of a San Francisco 49ers player is mourning after the death of their 1-year-old daughter.
“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward said in the statement.
The 49ers issued a statement Tuesday saying, “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy. Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.
“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”
Amani Joy was born on Nov. 17, 2022 with Trisomy 21, Ward said in the post.
Ward’s update on Tuesday said Amani Joy overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.
“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better,” Ward said. “She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”
For Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow In 2024 — the Best Football Is About to Be Played.
During the Covid-restricted 2020 NFL Draft — it was Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow who would become the first selection. As a sophomore at LSU — Burrow didn’t just break FBS records- he shattered them throwing sixty touchdowns in a season that captured not only the Heisman Trophy but also the National Championship.
In the opening week in 2020 — Burrow was the only one of the rookie quarterbacks to start before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Washington. Much like Jalen Hurts — Burrow’s second season was magical. The Bengals roared into the AFC Playoffs and defeated the Raiders 26–19, the Titans 19–16, and the Chiefs in Overtime stunning Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC Championship Game by a score 23–20 before falling to the Rams in Super Bowl LVI 23–20 — Cincinnati’s first appearance since 1988.
PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles
And like the Eagles- the Bengals have been trying to get back to the Super ever since. In 2022, they would lose a rematch in the AFC Championship Game to those Chiefs. In 2023 — Cincinnati wouldn’t even qualify for the playoffs with a 10–8 record. So far in 2024 — the Bengals are 3–4 and clutching to the hope of a narrowing window that they can still make the AFC Playoffs with some Burrow and Ja’marr Chase late-season magic.
In perhaps one of the most quarterback-rich NFL Drafts since 1983 that included Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Tua Tagovailoa — Jalen Hurts was selected by the Eagles in the second round with the 53rd pick. Jalen’s path to become the franchise quarterback was quite different from Burrow’s. He had to supplant Carson Wentz — who had just signed a four-year $128 million extension a year earlier. But on a cold 2020 evening in Green Bay — when Wentz headed to the bench and Hurts headed to be the future of the Eagles — the era of Jalen began.
Two years later — the high-powered Eagles offense was also in the Super Bowl. Even now in 2024 — the Eagles are striving to overcome that loss to the Kansas City Chiefs 38–35. The team that Kansas City beat to earn a trip to Super Bowl LVI and a matchup against the Eagles was Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals.
What is at stake this Sunday in Cincinnati isn’t just a week eight NFL matchup. For Burrow and the Chiefs — it’s a must-win home matchup. Five losses this early in the NFL season don’t bode well for a crowded AFC Playoff field. For Hurts, Barkley — it’s another matchup to prove that the Eagles offense is once again prolific with the return of Devonta Smith and Brown coupled with an Eagles defense that once again matches rookie talent against one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and a young secondary featuring Quinyon Mitchell desperately waiting for that first professional pick.
The answer to the question about whether Hurts or Burrow were the better pick themselves is not yet clear.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KTXL) – Following the 49ers 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall speaks to reporters about making his NFL debut on Sunday, 50 days after being shot in the chest in San Francisco.
Pearsall reflects on the life-changing event this past August, his path back to the football field, the support from the 49ers organization and how he feels going forward.
The emotional lift of Ricky Pearsall’s return to the field 50 days after he was shot lasted less than a half. Then the San Francisco 49ers had to deal with some more bad news at receiver.
Brandon Aiyuk went down with a right knee injury in Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that coach Kyle Shanahan fears is a season-ending ACL tear.
Shanahan said the team was waiting for confirmation from an MRI scheduled for Monday, but the expectation is that Aiyuk will miss the rest of the season in the latest injury blow to a San Francisco team already missing All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey and other key players.
“I know a lot of teams deal with that,” Shanahan said about the spate of injuries. “Not every team, but we’re dealing with it hard right now. It got worse today. It’s tough.”
Aiyuk got hurt late in the first half when was hit on the knee after making a catch in the red zone. He stayed down for a few minutes before being carted to the locker room and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.
Aiyuk, who signed a $120 million, four-year extension in late August following a lengthy contract “hold in,” has 25 catches for 374 yards this season. He was a second-team All-Pro last season when he had 1,342 yards receiving.
San Francisco was already without two of its other top receivers with Jauan Jennings sidelined by a hip injury that is not expected to be long-term and Deebo Samuel dealing with an illness that limited him to four snaps against Kansas City.
That put more responsibility on the plate of Pearsall, who was activated from the non-football injury list on Saturday. Pearsall came in for his first play on San Francisco’s opening drive and caught his first career pass late in the second quarter. He finished with three catches for 21 yards.
“He was going to get eased in a little today,” Shanahan said. “That changed a little bit with Deebo going out and it changed a bunch with Aiyuk going out. So he had to do more than we expected today and I was proud of him for handling it. It’s great to have him back.”
Pearsall returned to practice this past Monday for the first time since he was shot in the chest in San Francisco’s Union Square area on Aug. 31. He was hospitalized overnight but avoided damage to any organs and nerves and was back working out at the team facility the following week.
Pearsall, who was drafted in the first round in April, missed the majority of training camp practices with injuries to his hamstring and shoulder but was on track to be ready for the opener before he was shot.
He began his college career at Arizona State and transferred to Florida for his final two seasons. He had 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns last season for the Gators and finished his college career with 159 catches for 2,420 yards and 14 TDs.
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce in attendance for Game 1 of Yankees-Guardians series
Updated: 11:56 PM EDT Oct 14, 2024
Turns out, Taylor and Travis like to watch a little baseball, too.Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, are attending Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.Video above: Taylor Swift ‘shimmers’ in her signature red lip in arrival at Arrowhead StadiumThe New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, are hosting the Cleveland Guardians to begin the best-of-seven series. The famous couple sat together in a suite down the right-field line, in the second row above postseason bunting and a flag commemorating the Yankees’ 1932 World Series championship.Kelce, a Westlake, Ohio, native who went to high school in Cleveland Heights, sported a dark baseball cap with the words Midnight Rodeo on it. Swift also wore a hat on a 50-degree night in the Bronx.Kelce, who turned 35 on Oct. 5, grew up rooting for Kenny Lofton and Cleveland in the 1990s. Kelce threw a wild ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians’ season opener last year.Swift was also in attendance at last Monday night’s Chiefs game against the New Orleans Saints.It was the second major sporting event for Swift and Kelce in New York City over the past five-plus weeks. The couple also sat in a box to watch the men’s final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Sept. 8 in Queens.Kelce and the Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, had a bye this weekend after opening the season 5-0. Their next game is Sunday at San Francisco, a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.
Turns out, Taylor and Travis like to watch a little baseball, too.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, are attending Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
Video above: Taylor Swift ‘shimmers’ in her signature red lip in arrival at Arrowhead Stadium
The New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, are hosting the Cleveland Guardians to begin the best-of-seven series.
The famous couple sat together in a suite down the right-field line, in the second row above postseason bunting and a flag commemorating the Yankees’ 1932 World Series championship.
Kelce, a Westlake, Ohio, native who went to high school in Cleveland Heights, sported a dark baseball cap with the words Midnight Rodeo on it. Swift also wore a hat on a 50-degree night in the Bronx.
Kelce, who turned 35 on Oct. 5, grew up rooting for Kenny Lofton and Cleveland in the 1990s. Kelce threw a wild ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians’ season opener last year.
Swift was also in attendance at last Monday night’s Chiefs game against the New Orleans Saints.
Kelce and the Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, had a bye this weekend after opening the season 5-0. Their next game is Sunday at San Francisco, a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.
The Moment in Time When Nick Sirianni’s Eagles Were Changed Forever.
Shortly after you absorb that euphoric feeling of your team winning a Super Bowl — you immediately want to feel it again.
Not fifteen minutes after Tom Brady’s final Hail Mary Pass in Super Bowl LII fell short in the end zone — the priority shifted from celebration to preservation.
What would it take for the Eagles to return to claim another Lombardi Trophy?
The wait for another shot at NFL immortality wasn’t as quick as initially wished for, but it wasn’t as long as it could have been.
Just two years after the Eagles hired 39-year-old coach Nick Sirianni and committed to 23-year-old quarterback Jalen Hurts — the Eagles whose seemed like its bold offense could never be stopped from scoring — were back in the Super Bowl once again.
When the Eagles advanced to Super Bowl LVII and powered their way to a 24–14 lead through two quarters — it looked as though not even a short halftime to regroup could save Andy Reid’s Chiefs and a hobbled Patrick Mahomes.
PHOTO: Denny Medley/Imagn Images
During that fifteen-minute window — with Rhianna crescendoing her greatest hits on a stage at the 50-yard line — something happened to the Eagles. Perhaps it was arrogance, overconfidence, or inexperience. Perhaps it was a feeling that they were better than the game itself. Perhaps it was a combination of all of these.
What happened during the next 30 minutes was that a Head Coach—once skewered in Philadelphia for nearly fourteen years for not being able to make in-game adjustments—flipped the script on the Eagles. He gave his injured quarterback quick throws, attacked the Eagles’ defense in different ways, and contained Philly’s devastating offensive attack.
The team that wins the second half wins the game. That is exactly what happened.
Nick Sirianni’s Eagles never recovered from that moment. Even when the Eagles were eking out wins at 10–1 last season, something didn’t look right. When they went 1–6 the rest of the way, something certainly didn’t.
Many people didn’t want Nick Sirianni back this season. But making a convincing argument to stay — he did. At an early bye week, the Eagles are 2–2. They return from Tampa after yet another shellacking to a team that doesn’t have a talent level equal to Philadelphia.
Since 2016, the Eagles have spent too much time purging themselves of coaches and players who utilize arrogance as a defining quality. The last coach and franchise quarterback to try to plow forward, driven by this sense, left the Eagles in an eventual rebuild.
For the Eagles to return to the euphoric feeling of the NFC Championship Game win against the 49ers in 2023, it will take an adjustment of this team back to good fundamental football and a new approach for one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses.
As a girl who’s a die-hard football fan, it’s tough out here. I have men who don’t believe that I actually follow the sport and women who complain about having to watch the game in general. Football has been a male-dominated territory for a long time, but Taylor Swift is making groundbreaking changes.
With her regular attendance at Kansas City Chiefs games in support of her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, Swift is basically guaranteeing that women will be there for NFL games now…even if it’s only to catch a glimpse of Miss Swift herself.
And even if you’re not a Swiftie, more and more women are watching football more than ever. Whether it’s because your father, brother, uncle, friend, or boyfriend forced you to watch alongside them…or because you and your gal pals started an all female fantasy football league just for fun.
Where I live, Sundays are great days to go out and socialize. Bars are packed with people watching the games, so even if you’re not a fan it’s a fantastic excuse to get out of your house.
Morning Consult Brand Intelligence reported that, in December 2023, 64% of Gen-Z and millennial women held the NFL in a favorable view. The interest surrounding football goes beyond Swift now, and the NFL must do something to continue to capitalize on that.
Yes, it helps that heartthrobs like Joe Burrow exist simply to keep women interested. But what’s more interesting is that women are starting to care about the game itself.
I’m in an all girls fantasy league, where almost no one cared about football beforehand. However now, everyone is super invested in their teams.
But even more critical is looking good during the football season. For so long, the NFL neglected their women’s merch. Even more egregious, all the team apparel for women was hideous.
However, since football has turned over a new leaf…things have improved significantly. Now, it’s about looking trendy this 2024 football season. And I’m here to make sure you do just that.
Here are my favorite women’s NFL apparel picks for 2024:
Abercrombie
Abercrombie genuinely has some of the best NFL apparel for both men and women. It’s all on-trend, vintage in the right way, and a fan favorite. Seriously, every girl I know has one of the NFL sweatshirts from Abercrombie.
My roommate has this sweater and swears it changed her life because it’s so incredibly soft. Plus, the designs for your designated team are actually cute. Whether you like the quarterback because he’s handsome or because he can escape a sack like a magician…these sweaters are a staple this football season.
There was a time where only a few stores carried women’s NFL apparel. Since we’re in better days, plenty of women-focused stores now sell NFL gear that you’d actually wear.
This American Eagle Dolphins crewneck is oversized in the best way. Fine to wear with baggy jeans, leggings, a nice skort, or just biker shorts a la Princess Diana. An oversized crewneck is a staple for your closet…so make it NFL-themed.
Junk Food
Junk Food is the go-to for graphic tees and sweatshirts. So it should be easy to find something for your NFL team on this site, because everything is simply adorable.
This thermal is outstanding for everyday wear during the colder months when you’ll be rooting for your fave team (in this case, the Eagles) while still serving looks. Not a fan of the Birds? Don’t fret, they have every team on this site.
NFL Shop
Vintage is very in right now, which is why this Buffalo Bills sweater by Tommy Hilfiger is a must-have. With a double v-neck and the red, white, and blue trim, this sweatshirt gives the perfect dose of nostalgia.
Order one a few sizes bigger than your normal and you have an excellent oversized sweatshirt for the fall!
New Era
The perfect NFL baby tee does exist, and it’s sold at New Era. With a simple embroidered cursive font and logo, this baby tee doesn’t have a lot going on. But it works with jeans and a leather jacket for a cute gameday fit.
It’s one of the most popular NFL apparel pieces this season for a reason, so get it while you can!
Swift arrived about 90 minutes before kickoff to see her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and the two-time defending Super Bowl champions play the Cincinnati Bengals in a rematch of two of the past three AFC championship games.
Swift has become close friends with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, over the past year. And that led to some controversy this week after the 14-time Grammy winner said she supported Harris over Donald Trump in the November election.
Trump has been referencing Brittany Mahomes in interviews and speeches since last month, after she liked — and then unliked — an Instagram post by the Republican presidential nominee outlining the “2024 GOP platform.” Trump posted soon afterward on Truth Social: “I want to thank beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me.”
Swift’s endorsement of Harris led Trump to say in a phone interview with Fox News this week: “I actually like Mrs. Mahomes much better, if you want to know the truth. She’s a big Trump fan. I like Brittany. I think Brittany is great.”
Trump went even further Sunday, posting on Truth Social in call caps: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”
“I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate or do whatever, either way,” the two-time NFL MVP said before practice Wednesday. “I think my place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family.”
Brittany Mahomes has since stayed out of the political spotlight except to respond to critics on social media, saying in a post: “To be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood.”
Some critics thought politics may have caused a rift between her and Swift two weeks ago, when they did not sit together for the Chiefs’ season-opening win over Ravens. But they were back together that weekend in New York for the U.S. Open.
On Wednesday night, Swift pushed her total of MTV Video Music Awards to 30, tying Beyonce for the record among all artists. Her hefty haul included the night’s biggest trophy for video of the year, for which she thanked her “boyfriend Travis” for being on set for the “Fortnight” music video and cheering her on.
“Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic,” Swift said, before again using her platform to encourage fans over 18 to register to vote for the 2024 presidential election.
Since then, Swift and the four-time All-Pro tight end have spent plenty of time together, often with the cameras following their every move. Swift has become a regular at Chiefs games whenever she is on a break from her Eras Tour, and Kelce accompanied her to several performances during the offseason, even making an onstage cameo at Wembley Stadium in London.
By now, you’ve seen the photos of Taylor Swift smashing away breakup rumors as she walked into the first Chiefs game of the season. You’ve also seen the photos of Swift and Travis Kelce — our very own American Royal Family — at the US Open with Travis’s $450 Gucci bucket hat that wouldn’t stay still. Swift is not the first but the latest and most famous star who has transformed sports stadiums into her runway.
In the midst of fashion week, it’s notable that Swift’s most public appearances aren’t a front row seat at exclusive shows or attendance at the hottest parties. But in her new arena: literal arenas. And now that she’s back to being besties with the controversial Brittany Mahomes, one thing is clear: WAGs are back.
The term WAG reached peak popularity back in the days of 2000s magazines. The acronym — which stands for “Wives and Girlfriends” — refers to the significant others of high-profile athletes. And, since it was coined during that toxic era, it was belittling at best and derogatory at worst. But now, a WAG renaissance is in full swing. And helmed by one of the most influential women in the world, WAGs are as powerful and popular (if not more so) as their sporty SOs.
The WAG Comeback
The 2024 Super Bowl drew a record number of viewers — and many of them can be chalked up to Taylor Swift. All season, fans tuned in to see her at the KC Arrowhead Stadium and ticket sales for the Chiefs home games skyrocketed. So when the Super Bowl came around, as many eyes were on Swift as they were on Kelce. Some have even called him the first nepo boyfriend.
But Swift wasn’t the only WAG at this year’s Super Bowl. Swift’s aforementioned bestie Brittany Mahomes — wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes — was also in attendance. And on the 49ers side of the stands, Miss Universe Olivia Culpo was supporting her now-husband (though this was before she went Bridezilla) running back Christian McCaffrey alongside TikToker Allison Kucharczyk, the wife of defensive end Isaac Rochell.
Other football WAGs are proof that sometimes, the partner in the stands is the more famous one — no matter what these sports guys might say on a podcast. Take Olympic gymnast and mightiest to ever compete in the sport, Simone Biles. Biles’ husband Jonathan Owens is on the Green Bay Packers, yet she’s America’s sweetheart. Watch out Owens, one wrong move and Zac Efron is famously waiting in the wings to treat Simone right. Another prominent face in the football stands is one we’re used to seeing on TikTok, Alix Earle. Earle is dating Dolphins receiver Braxton Berrios but there’s no doubt who the breadwinner is in that relationship.
Across the pond in the UK, England’s football team were one penalty kick away from winning the Euros — ouch. And though they didn’t end up bringing it home, the true victory was the WAG style we got along the way. I mean, the image of Tolami Benson — girlfriend of Bukayo Saka — wearing a custom Three Lions branded motorcycle jacket with her boyfriend’s number on it will be on my moodboard forever.
This is the epitome of WAG-dom. It gives the same energy that Victoria Beckham gave in the peak of David Beckha’s career. On the nose, supportive, but also eye-catching enough to remind us that she’s a star too. And as we’ve seen with the Beckhams — although David’s career is mostly over — Victoria’s fashion and beauty line are staples in the industry. Sports careers are fleeting, WAGs are forever.
The Euros WAGs all understood the assignment. Their social media posts were the most engaged of the entire season. Other UK football WAGs include Love Island alum Dani Dyer (dating right winger Jarrod Bowen), entrepreneur Katie Bio (longtime girlfriend of centre-forward Ivan Toney and mother of their two kids) and content creator Aine May Kennedy (dating midfielder Conor Gallagher). It takes us back to the old days seeing Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham in the stands wearing custom graphic tanks.
The US Open and Wimbledom have also been WAG city. Tennis is indeed fueling the WAG renaissance. Content creators are often seen at tennis matches. But recently some of the biggest names on TikTok and Instagram are taking tenniscore to the next level by dating the athletes who are at the top of their game. Morgan Riddle is dating top-ranked American male Taylor Fritz, aka the hearttrob of tennis. Ayan Broomfield is giving Zendaya’s Tashi Duncan a run for her money as a former collegiate player and girlfriend to fan favorite Francis Tiafoe. And Paige Lorenze is living her country club dream as Tommy Paul’s girlfriend.
We can’t forget the ultimate WAG movie of the year: Challengers. In Challengers, most people focused on the tennis, the tension, and the almost-threesome. I focused on how Zendaya’s character girlbossed her way from tennis prodigy to the ultimate WAG. And it wouldn’t be a Zendaya film if the fashion wasn’t a character all in itself. From her cashmere sweater ot her Chanel espadrilles, her WAG era reeked of quiet luxury. Perhaps that’s part of the appeal of the WAG. They’ve built their brands on their aspirational lifestyles and have adopted quiet luxury personas to elevate their status.
That’s why WAG boxes have become a playground for brands in the same way that the NBA tunnel is its own runway. It’s no surprise spectators at games have become the stars. We should have seen this coming since the Kardashian-Jenner clan love dating athletes and are often spotted showing off the latest trends as they perch courtside ready for their closeups. Brands have finally clued in, partnering with WAGs for sports coverage and styling them in their logos.
The feminization of sports culture
Thanks to prominent WAGs, many women have found an accessible entry point into sports culture. Game night is no longer simply boys night. From the fashion to the hopes fans will catch a glimpse of their favorite stars in the stands, I say it doesn’t matter what gets you to watch the game, it just matters that the culture feels inclusive.
And we’re getting there. According to NBC Sports, the NFL has seen its highest levels of female viewership since it started tracking data — with a 53% spike in teenage female viewers. In her 2023 Time Person Of The Year Interview, Taylor Swift said, “Football is awesome, it turns out. I’ve been missing out my whole life.”
People on social media joked that Taylor Swift was helping teenage girls connect with their dads again — but the sentiment is so true it even became the basis for a Super Bowl ad.
Another reason women are participating in sports culture more is the attention that female athletes are getting. Female athletes and women’s sports have been overlooked for far too long. The lie that “no one cares about women’s sports” has devalued them so much that female athletes are paid way worse and watched way less — despite the fact that female teams in the US and UK have higher success rates internationally than their male counterparts.
When England’s Lioness team competed in the Women’s Euros in 2022, their match brought in a record 17.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s football game on UK television at the time. This record has since been surpassed by the men’s 2024 Euro final … which they lost. The Lioness team bringing home the cup put a major spotlight on women’s football and boosted viewership of their regular season games.
Earlier this year, the same occurred with women’s basketball in the states. Who can forget the mania that surrounded Caitlin Clark’s final season? The 2024 Paris Olympics also underscored the viewership and power of women’s sports. From the US women’s gymnastics team and the US women’s rugby team, stars like Simone Biles and Ilona Maher won matches and the people’s hearts with their prowess and their ability to make pretty much anything go viral.
Girls just wanna have fun — and fashion
As we are known to do, girls have taken the popularity of women’s sports and transformed it into fashion fodder and — frankly — pop culture itself. Sportswear has taken a turn for the fashionable thanks to stylish sports fans noticing that much of the merch or apparel out there just isn’t that cute.
Despite the constantly shifting microtrends over the past few years, Blokecore is one trend that’s not going anywhere. The premise behind it: dressing like a real geezer. Its signature components are sneakers and jerseys — which can range from mini soccer jerseys to oversized football jerseys.
Either way, sports merch is the new concert merch. And the girlies are making it cute again. Fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk — wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk — went viral for making matching Chiefs jackets for Swift and Mahomes. Plus, savvy brands like Abercrombie have partnered with the NFL to make merch that caters to this fresh audience. Plus, new brands like Wear by Erin Andrews and Gameday Couture are emerging to make game day cute.
While misogyny is still rampant and some haters are accusing nascent female fans of being less legitimate, the truth is: there’s no stopping women in sports. Whether they’re WAGs, fans, or athletes themselves, the sports stands just got a whole lot cuter. You’re welcome.
As the Kansas City Chiefs kick off the 2024 NFL season against the Baltimore Ravens, one of the reigning Super Bowl champions’ most infamous fans will be absent from the stands. No, not Taylor Swift — Xavier Babudar, better known as “ChiefsAholic,” was sentenced to 17 years and six months following a string of bank robberies across the country.
He was sentenced on charges related to 11 robberies across seven states, stealing over $800,000.
Babudar became well known for suiting up in a wolf costume to attend Chiefs games, garnering attention throughout the team’s recent string of championships with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“While parading as a social media celebrity, Babudar secretly engaged in a violent crime spree,” U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said Thursday in a statement. “Babudar’s robbery spree bankrolled the expensive tickets and travel across the country to attend Kansas City Chiefs games while he cultivated a large fan base online.”
Babudar was ordered to pay $532,675 in restitution and forfeit any property involved in laundering the stolen money, which the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a press release included an autographed picture of Mahomes. The attorney’s office that most of the money Babudar stole has not been recovered.
Badubar was first charged in December 2022 following a series of successful and attempted robberies and was released on bond in February 2023. Babudar cut his ankle monitor and fled the authorities in March 2023, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. That was days after he had received a check with winnings from successfully betting on the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LVII and Mahomes to win Super Bowl MVP in 2023, the attorney’s office said.
He was again arrested in Sacramento in July of 2023 and charged with bank theft and transporting stolen property across state lines in federal court. Babudar admitted to robbing two additional banks while on the run, and has been detained without bond since then.
On Feb. 11, the Kansas City Chiefs won their second consecutive Super Bowl. On Feb. 28, Babudar pleaded guilty to bank robbery, money laundering and transporting stolen property across state lines. In April, he was ordered by a judge in Oklahoma to pay $10.8 million to a bank teller for injuries and punitive damages sustained during the Bixby robbery.
Rumors began to swirl online yesterday that the American Royal Couple, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, were heading for Splitsville.
It began with a Reddit post with an alleged contract, providing an exact date when Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift would break up. This fueled even more gossip that the iconic couple — who have made debuts together on-stage at Swift’s Era’s Tour — were a so-called PR relationship.
Online forum and social media users began to speculate whether or not Swift and Kelce’s relationship has merely been a ploy for popularity — or not. However, Travis Kelce shut down those rumors immediately by having his PR firm, Full Stop, call lawyers to confirm these documents are falsified and they will be taking action.
image C/O Daily Mail
It’s a sigh of relief for many as The Tortured Poet’s Department singer and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end haven’t called it quits. But it’s also an important sign not to believe everything you see on a Reddit thread…and luckily, this couple will never go out of style.
A spokesman from Full Scope told The Daily Mail that the document is “entirely false and fabricated and were not created, issued or authorized by this agency.”
‘We have engaged our legal team to initiate proceedings against the individuals or entities responsible for the unlawful and injurious forgery of documents,’ Full Scope added.
It’s been a busy week for Travis Kelce, who spent the summer following Taylor on tour, as he prepares for the start of NFL season on Thursday. He also just revealed the trailer for Ryan Murphy’s latest show, Grotesquerie,starring Kelce and Niecy Nash. While the trailer is sure to turn heads, we can’t help but still fear for his acting abilities— or lack thereof!
Regardless, we can all relax now knowing Taylor and Travis are still going strong. And I will wait patiently for the engagement rumors to ensue.
Let’s go to our experts to answer these questions, with the help of analytics and our eyes on the beat.
After running 10,000 simulations of the 2024 season, Austin Mock’s NFL betting model has calculated an expected win total for every team, from the San Francisco 49ers (11.4 wins) to the Washington Commanders (5.9). (You can see the AFC teams here and the NFC here.) Now, our beat writers are here to answer: Is the model too high, too low or just right regarding the team you cover?
San Francisco 49ers
Win total: 11.4
This feels just right. The 49ers won 13 games in 2022 and 12 games in 2023. Factor in the exhaustion from repeated postseason runs (the 49ers have played 60 games over the past three seasons), and another decline in win total this season would make sense. But the Niners, assuming there’s a resolution to the contractual situations involving Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk, might’ve actually upgraded their roster this offseason. Seven members of their 2024 draft class made the 53-man roster, including a starter at what had been the offense’s weakest position, right guard. And quarterback Brock Purdy is expected to improve with experience. The 49ers’ defense, coming off a down year, has seen a talent overhaul, which could help them stay in the 11- to 12-win range. — David Lombardi
GO DEEPER
Kawakami: A dramatic 49ers-Brandon Aiyuk showdown and the signs of a break-up in progress
Kansas City Chiefs
Win total: 11.3
Projecting the Chiefs to have the best record in the AFC is logical. But they could have more than 11 victories, especially if they sweep their two-game home series to start the season against the Ravens and the Bengals. The Chiefs are clearly favored to win their ninth consecutive AFC West crown. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have dominated the division, and the Chiefs have arguably the league’s best kicker in Harrison Butker, who usually gives them a critical advantage in tight games. The biggest concern is if their defense slides back in the rankings with L’Jarius Sneed, Willie Gay and Mike Edwards no longer on the roster. — Nate Taylor
Detroit Lions
Win total: 10.5
The case for the Lions exceeding 10.5 wins is that they won 12 games a year ago with a young roster and obvious holes. This offseason, they bolstered their secondary, added D.J. Reader and Marcus Davenport along the defensive line and expect their young players to take a step forward. At the same time, though, the Lions face a first-place schedule, and the division is tougher on paper. There’s a world in which the team is more complete overall but wins fewer games. But I have the Lions at 12 wins again, so it’s a touch low, in my opinion. — Colton Pouncy
Baltimore Ravens
Win total: 10.2
If you could guarantee Lamar Jackson will play 15 games or more, I’d say 10.2 wins is a bit low, simply because of how good Baltimore has been in the regular season with a healthy Jackson. However, you can’t do that, so 10.2 looks just right to me. The Ravens have a solid and deep team, but they play a really tough schedule and they have legitimate questions in two key areas: offensive line and edge rush. Those factors need to be considered. — Jeff Zrebiec
Cincinnati Bengals
Win total: 10.2
The Bengals had a fully healthy Joe Burrow for just five-and-a-half games last year. Their defense looked nothing like its previous self without Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell. They played one of the toughest schedules in the league. Very little went right. They still won nine games. A projection of 10.2 is solid, but I’d be more comfortable going over than under. They have questions, no doubt, but they added veteran safeties, the schedule appears dramatically easier, the offensive line is as solid as Burrow has played behind. As long as Burrow is healthy (all signs are good) with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins outside, 10 wins feels like the floor. — Paul Dehner Jr.
Mock writes, “Ultimately, this division comes down to how well Eagles QB Jalen Hurts plays.” I agree. And that’s why I still feel comfortable about my 12-5 prediction from the spring. Hurts was noticeably more polished in training camp. He was decisive, effective and dangerous on deep throws. The Eagles’ wealth of offensive talent could produce, at the very least, a top-five offense if Hurts can command this system properly. Owner Jeffrey Lurie has demonstrated patience with his head coaches so long as there’s confidence in a competitive path forward. But it’s worth wondering whether a 10-win season would be considered a regression under Nick Sirianni. — Brooks Kubena
Win total: 10.0
Despite Dallas’ three consecutive 12-win seasons, the model’s 10-win projection is right on line with what most would expect from the Cowboys. After winning the NFC East, the Cowboys have a tough first-place schedule, which includes games against the Ravens, 49ers, Lions, Eagles (twice), Texans and Bengals. If they remain mostly healthy in all of the key spots, anywhere between nine wins and 12 wins seems like a fair projection. — Saad Yousuf
Win total: 9.8
Mock has the Packers’ win total as the fifth-highest in the NFC. I think the Packers will win 10 or 11 games, so it’s just about right and, if anything, a tick low. Jordan Love and company won’t need the first half of the season to work out the kinks of unfamiliarity, and new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley seems to have his unit firing on all cylinders. The biggest question marks are offensive line depth, the kicker position and youth in the secondary. Shore up at least two of those three and the Packers will be a legitimate title contender. — Matt Schneidman
GO DEEPER
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Win total: 9.7
This seems just about right. A team led by Josh Allen in his prime should always be taken seriously. I’m sure, even with several questions about the Bills in 2024, Allen is why they have the AFC’s fourth-highest win total. But the questions are legitimate. The defense could take a real step back due to cap-cleaning offseason turnover and a long-term injury to linebacker Matt Milano. Plus, it’s a new offense without wideout Stefon Diggs or center Mitch Morse. The Bills could struggle with a tough early schedule, but don’t rule out a second-half surge once all the new pieces jell just in time for the playoffs. — Joe Buscaglia
Even with Aaron Rodgers’ healthy return to the Jets, Josh Allen’s team still has a slight edge on its division rival. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
Win total: 9.6
It’s hard to argue with this projection — and fascinating how tightly the AFC East teams are grouped. The Jets clearly have the most talented roster of the three from top to bottom, and if Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy, there’s no reason they should fall short of 10 wins. They had a top-five defense in each of the last two seasons, and the unit is still mostly intact (and could be even better if/when Haason Reddick finally reports). The offense should be vastly improved. Rodgers is obviously a major upgrade over Zach Wilson and last year’s rotation of backups, Breece Hall is fully healthy, Garrett Wilson is ready to break out and GM Joe Douglas did a good job rebuilding the offensive line this offseason. — Zack Rosenblatt
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Win total: 9.5
This matches the over/under from BetMGM, so the experts are aligned here. However, the Dolphins are coming off of an 11-win season, and with a light schedule to start the campaign, I lean toward the over here. I expect coach Mike McDaniel to field another offensive juggernaut while unleashing some new wrinkles that most defenses won’t be able to handle. I’m concerned about Miami’s defensive line without Christian Wilkins but also love the system new DC Anthony Weaver is implementing. I think Miami gets off to another hot start but will have to fight to get to 10 wins against what looks like a very tough closing slate (at Packers, vs. Jets, at Texans, vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets). — Jim Ayello
Win total: 9.4
If the Falcons don’t win at least 10 games, they’ll be disappointed, and they should be. They said they were ready to compete “at the highest level” when they fired Arthur Smith. They guaranteed Kirk Cousins $100 million. They traded for Matthew Judon and signed Justin Simmons. Eighty-one-year-old owner Arthur Blank is pushing all his chips in and making an expensive bet that this team is better than 9.4 wins. — Josh Kendall
Houston Texans
Win total: 9.0
The Texans were a surprise success story last season, going 10-7 and winning the AFC South. Mock projects them for nine wins this season, but I think they could again surpass that. C.J. Stroud has a season of experience under his belt. Bobby Slowik did well as a first-time play caller but will likely find ways to get even more out of Stroud this season, given the additional weapons (including Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon) acquired this offseason. Adding pass rusher Danielle Hunter in free agency should help both Will Anderson Jr. and the Texans’ defense as a whole. DeMeco Ryans’ squad has a good shot at another 10-win season and a return to the playoffs. — Mike Jones
Win total: 8.9
Nine wins feels about right for the Chargers. I had them at 10 in my prediction in May. Consider the extra game the Jim Harbaugh bump. The players are bought in. Harbaugh has led dramatic turnarounds in all of his head-coaching stops — San Diego University, Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan. I believe he will have the same impact in Los Angeles. And, of course, the Chargers still have one of the best quarterbacks in football in Justin Herbert, who looked great in practice last week after returning from his plantar fascia injury. — Daniel Popper
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Win total: 8.8
This feels a little low for a team that exceeded expectations in 2023 and added more resources to both sides of the ball. Injuries will be a major factor early, with the Rams returning multiple key players from absence: Jonah Jackson (shoulder), Puka Nacua (knee) and Darious Williams (hamstring). They should get starting right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) back either in Week 1 or by Week 3. Starting left tackle Alaric Jackson (ankle, suspension) will be back in Week 3. No, there’s no Aaron Donald — but a depleted Rams team won 10 games last season. They will go as quarterback Matthew Stafford goes. — Jourdan Rodrigue
Cleveland Browns
Win total: 8.7
The Browns have a much higher ceiling than 8.7 wins, and internally, they’d say the roster is better than last year’s version that went 11-5 despite having to play five different quarterbacks. But just one quarterback matters in the present and future, and Deshaun Watson just had an unimpressive training camp while coming off of shoulder surgery. He hasn’t played a live snap in almost 10 months and has played 12 games in the last three years. The Browns have a lot of talent, but can they count on Watson? I’d say eight or nine wins feels right. — Zac Jackson
The Saints entered last year as a no-brainer favorite to win the NFC South with one of the league’s easiest schedules. They only won nine games and missed the playoffs. Their schedule doesn’t seem much tougher this season, but the NFC South improved around them and New Orleans didn’t grow enough along the roster this offseason. These are legitimate reasons as to why the Saints aren’t the favorites in a still seemingly weak division. So an 8.2-win projection feels fair. These projections also indicate the Saints would miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, which would likely mean a new coach and new quarterback for the 2025 campaign. — Larry Holder
Win total: 8.2
Seattle went 9-8 thanks to narrow Week 18 victories in each of Pete Carroll’s final two seasons. Mike Macdonald inherited much of the same roster, so even if his new coaching staff is better, this projection feels accurate. The NFC West is a tough division, and Seattle has legitimate questions at inside linebacker and offensive line. Plus there might naturally be some growing pains along the way with an entirely new coaching staff led by a first-year head coach and first-year offensive coordinator. — Michael-Shawn Dugar
The Bears trail the Lions (10.5) and Packers (9.8), but a nine- or 10-win season doesn’t feel like a reach, either. The Bears beat the division-winning Lions last year — and coach Matt Eberflus’ defense should be better this season. Quarterback Caleb Williams will have his rookie moments, but he’s surrounded by talent with receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett and running back D’Andre Swift. They’ll all help with Williams’ growing pains. — Adam Jahns
Win total: 8.1
I think this is a 10-win team. And if the Jaguars play closer to the version that went 15-5 from late 2022 to early 2023, they might have 12-win potential. Of course, a lot will have to go right for that to materialize. My biggest concern is the Jags start at the Dolphins, return home for the Browns, then visit the Bills and Texans. If they aren’t on point and fall to 0-4, there’s no telling what that could do to their confidence. But barring a catastrophe of that magnitude, they’ve got enough winnable games over the final three months of the season to exceed the projected 8.1 wins. — Jeff Howe
Pittsburgh Steelers
Win total: 7.6
Mike Tomlin has been the model of consistency, never finishing with a losing record in 17 seasons as coach. The biggest threat to that streak is one of the NFL’s most challenging schedules. The Steelers play in arguably the league’s most competitive division. The backstretch is brutal, with three games — at Baltimore, at Philadelphia and vs. Kansas City — in 10 days in December. Still, it would be hard to bet against Tomlin’s history, making the 7.6 win projection a little low. The remade offensive line and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith should help. If Tomlin can get to .500 or better with Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges at QB, he should be able to do it with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. — Mike DeFabo
Win total: 7.5
The Colts won nine games last year primarily with backup QB Gardner Minshew at the helm. Their schedule is tougher this season, but the belief internally is that a healthy Anthony Richardson can elevate the entire team. I agree that Richardon’s dual-threat abilities make him capable of leading Indianapolis to more wins than Mock’s projected 7.5, though the inexperienced secondary could be a big weakness. Assuming the back end doesn’t completely fall apart, I’ll pencil the Colts in for 10 wins and their first playoff berth since 2020. — James Boyd
The Colts have their sights set high with Anthony Richardson back and healthy. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
Win total: 7.5
Internal expectations and fan expectations are much greater than this. According to Mock’s model, the Bucs are 11th in the NFC and third in the NFC South behind the Saints and Falcons. The Bucs won nine last year, and the general perception is they improved in the offseason with the additions of Jordan Whitehead, Graham Barton and Jalen McMillan. Whether they improve or slide might depend largely on quarterback Baker Mayfield, who had a breakout year in 2023 and is adjusting to new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who has replaced Dave Canales. — Dan Pompei
Win total: 7.3
The quarterback selection of Gardner Minshew over Aidan O’Connell didn’t move the needle much, so it’s no surprise that Mock has the Raiders at 7.3 wins, just clearing the Vegas over-under line of 6.5 wins. The defense should be very good, Davante Adams is still one of the best offensive players in the league, and first-round pick Brock Bowers should have a big impact at tight end. Problems could arise if there are any injuries, as the Raiders are not deep and new general manager Tom Telesco is taking the long view with salary-cap space. And if the Raiders get off to a slow start, Adams might call for a trade, so … 7.3 sounds good, but there is some shaky ground. — Vic Tafur
Win total: 7.1
Local optimism is high. And it should be. Kyler Murray is healthy. The talent around him is better. The Cardinals are trending in the right direction. But coming off a four-win first season under coach Jonathan Gannon, 7.1 wins in Year 2 sounds right. GM Monti Ossenfort inherited a significant rebuilding job, and the worst thing he could’ve done was try to do too much too soon. This is the next step. Maximize Murray. Improve defensively. Develop depth. Learn how to win. Reversals can happen quickly, but for the Cardinals, there are no shortcuts. — Doug Haller
Win total: 6.8
There are days when Mock’s projection feels low — and other days when it feels high. Is it underrating Brian Flores’ defense? Is it accurately assessing quarterback Sam Darnold? Maybe yes, maybe no. If you think it’s too high, it’s probably because of the schedule. The Vikings open with the Giants, then face a gauntlet: 49ers, Texans, Packers, Jets, Lions and Rams. Those six teams have incredible talent and high-end coaching. If you see 6.8 wins as too low, you are probably looking at Darnold’s situation alongside Justin Jefferson and head coach Kevin O’Connell and thinking an explosive offense is in store. Both viewpoints make sense. Anyone who thinks they know how it’ll play out is overconfident. — Alec Lewis
Win total: 6.8
This is on the low side of the Titans’ range, but six or seven wins is certainly possible, especially with the tough NFC North on the schedule. This is a very difficult team to project considering the changes and unknowns. A first-time head coach (Brian Callahan) with first-time coordinators (Nick Holz, Dennard Wilson) will rely heavily on draft picks plugged into key roles immediately (left tackle JC Latham, defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat), and hope key veteran acquisitions (L’Jarius Sneed, Calvin Ridley, Chidobe Awuzie, Tony Pollard, Quandre Diggs) have best-case seasons. Oh, and the Titans hope they have a franchise quarterback in Will Levis. They just don’t know yet. — Joe Rexrode
Win total: 6.7
It’s wild to say about a team with a projection of only 6.7 wins, but this seems too high. The Patriots went 4-13 a year ago, parted with the greatest coach of all time and brought back a remarkably similar roster to last season. Drake Maye won’t be starting at quarterback, the wide receiver and offensive line groups both rank among the league’s worst, and the defense got worse in recent weeks after losing its top two pass rushers (Christian Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots and is out indefinitely, while Matthew Judon was traded to the Falcons). — Chad Graff
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New York Giants
Win total: 6.7
This is right on target. The Giants won six games last year and, yes, there was a Murphy’s Law element involved with so many injuries to top players. But it’s not as simple as expecting improvement if the team manages to stay healthier. First, quarterback Daniel Jones has a lengthy injury history, so health isn’t a given. Additionally, the Giants are without some top players from last season’s roster (Saquon Barkley, Xavier McKinney, Leonard Williams). They traded for Brian Burns and drafted Malik Nabers in the first round with the expectation they’ll be game-changers on both sides of the ball. But there are enough question marks with the roster to temper expectations. — Dan Duggan
Win total: 6.4
The model was not kind to the Panthers, who sit ahead of only Denver (6.0) and Washington (5.9). But it feels about right, considering I picked the Panthers to go 6-11 when schedules were released in May. It’s reasonable to think Bryce Young will take a step forward in a new offensive system and with improved blockers and playmakers. But with sizable holes at cornerback and edge rusher, the defense could take a step back. — Joseph Person
Denver Broncos
Win total: 6.0
This is too low. In 16 seasons as an NFL head coach, Sean Payton has never won fewer than seven games. The Broncos went 8-9 last season, then jettisoned a handful of veterans like Russell Wilson, Justin Simmons and Jerry Jeudy. But Wilson’s replacement at quarterback, Bo Nix, looks more ready to run Payton’s offense than I initially expected. A personnel overhaul in the front seven will make the Broncos better against the run. Many players are in Year 2 in their schemes, and it’s been easy to see the impact of that continuity in training camp. It’s fair to sell the Broncos as a playoff team, but seven wins feels like the floor to me. — Nick Kosmider
Washington Commanders
Win total: 5.9
The broad oddsmakers set the win total at 6.5, a number that many Jayden Daniels believers find shockingly low. Mock’s model went even lower with a league-worst 5.9 wins. What the projections cannot easily consider is the Commanders’ renewed competitive spirit under coach Dan Quinn. Daniels’ upside and more weekly consistency should push Washington above Mock’s number, but it might take injury and bounce-of-the-ball luck (and better-than-expected CB and OT play) to reach seven wins or sniff .500. — Ben Standig
(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; photos: Ryan Kang, Perry Knotts, Jaiden Tripi / Getty Images)
Blake Lively has managed to pull off the impossible. It used to be rare for a television star to make the crossover to movie stardom. From George Clooney to Will Smith, few actors in the 90s pulled off that feat. And while it’s a bit more common now, only a select group have soared from teen drama to A-List status.
In recent years, we can point to stars like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Charles Melton as proof that there’s life beyond the soapy high school drama. But let’s be honest: they’d be nothing and nowhere without the original cast of Gossip Girl.
The 2000s drama was ahead of the curve. Shows like Succession and White Lotus have taken up its mantle by commenting on the lives of the elite from the inside but those prep school kids blazed the trail. And leading the pack, forever changing what we think of Grand Central Station, is Blake Lively.
Decades later, she’s still on top. She’s a beloved A-Lister with an enviable marriage, an even more enviable friend group (Taylor, if you’re looking for more besties look no further), and a thriving career.
But how did she go from preppy headbands to Hollywood royalty? And, even more recently, why does her career feel like it’s always on an insane upward trajectory? Especially when, if we have to admit it, she’s not the greatest actress around. Likability and beauty can get you far — but Blake’s career is astounding. Is she really all that or is she just… really pretty?
Blake Lively’s Rise to Fame
Before she was Blake Lively: Hollywood Icon™, she was still the coolest girl on our screens. Her role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was pivotal for millennials everywhere. Alongside America Ferrera (Hey Barbie!), Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, this ultimate girl gang rivaled her current Swift squad. We all wanted to be them. We all wanted to wear her pants.
She retained that mantle of being unattainably cool in her pivotal role: Gossip Girl.
As Serena van der Woodsen, Lively became the ultimate It Girl. Just like her character, she was the epitome of elite 2000s girlhood. She was like Paris and Nicole with an old-money sophistication. She was all bandage dresses and blowouts both on screen and off. Who didn’t try to recreate at least one of Serena’s outfits — and with disastrous results! — in the show’s heyday?
Post Gossip Girl, Blake faced the stingy choices available to young female stars once their adolescent drama rolled its final credits. For women, the desire to grow up in the public’s eyes leads to a string of sexualized roles. Or, the need to branch out manifests in less-than-successful career pivots — sorry to Leighton Meester’s one song.
While Blake didn’t go any of these routes, she didn’t make the splash she yearned for, either. She did a string of subpar movies that are not worth the watch. She starred as a perpetually beautiful woman who didn’t age in The Age of Adaline — kind of a reverse Benjamin Button except her biggest problem was staying hot forever. Then she starred in the clunky, Gone Girl-esque thriller A Simple Favor alongside Anna Kendrick. Though critics panned it for its nonsensical plot, confusing characters, and flat acting, it found cult fans on streaming and is even an iconic role for many fans — even recently announcing a sequel (we’ll get to that).
She also had forgettable roles as the hot love interest in films like The Town, a cult Boston crime film for which she put on an okay Boston accent, and Savages, a movie recently revived by Netflix.
As her most notable works post Gossip Girl, this isn’t the most robust resume. Yet Blake has retained A-List status. I wouldn’t call her an It-Girl, she’s not out partying or having abrat summer, but every time she steps out, she makes headlines. At this point, she’s known as much for her idyllic marriage with Ryan Reynolds and her friendship with Taylor Swift. Her daughter even has a feature in Taylor Swift’s “Gorgeous” — probably a bigger career credit than anything Blake has appeared in since Gossip Girl.
Meanwhile, many of her Gossip Girl castmates have found success beyond the series. Penn Badgley stars as the creepy serial killer Joe in Netflix’s You. As one of the streamer’s biggest shows, Penn has been catapulted back into the hearts of audiences everywhere — even if his character isn’t the typical heartthrob. Chace Crawford is subverting his pretty-boy looks in The Boys on Amazon, another smash hit series. His character, The Deep, is disturbed and dumb, and played with a brilliant blend of criticism and compassion by Crawford, who doesn’t merely rely on his looks … though he definitely could.
Not to mention her Sisterhood co-star America Ferrera starring in Barbie, the hottest movie of last summer, and being nominated for an Academy Award. Not her first award buzz, never forget Ferrera’s Emmy-nominated turn as Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty, one of the most addictive shows of the 2000s.
With everyone else in her orbit going on to transcend their roots and prove their actual talent, why hasn’t Blake done the same? And however has she managed to stay the most relevant? So the question is: Is she actually a solid actress, or are we all just distracted by how outrageously gorgeous she is? It’s like when your crush says something and you laugh even though it wasn’t funny. Are we all just crushing on Blake Lively?
Blake Lively Is The Queen of the Met Gala: Why did she skip Met 2024?
Testament to her enduring A-List status, Lively is one of the people’s favorites at The Met Gala, which she generally attends with her husband year after year. As one of the biggest and most exclusive annual events on the planet, only a handful of celebrities are invited to the Met steps each and every year. Blake is one of the lucky few.
Usually, the invite list is determined by who was most relevant that year. Whose press tour dominated culture and fashion headlines? What musicians were everywhere? Who were the industry It-Girls? Lively hasn’t fit that bill since the 2010s, yet there she is, smiling on the Met Steps each and every year.
It makes some sense when you consider how viral Lively’s looks go every year. She’s an easy muse — so designers never miss when dressing her. Therefore her absence at the 2024 Met Gala was remarkable. Many were hoping she’d revive the success of her most memorable gown from the Heavenly Bodies exhibit. But alas, nothing. Some speculated a falling out with Anna. Others, another pregnancy. Or was Blake finally just … uninvited?
Turns out, she was just busy being a mom and working on her various projects. I’ll admit, I was skeptical when I heard this. What projects? Lively’s biggest projects are The Met and Kansas Chief’s games. Sometimes I think she’s as much of a nepo bestie as Travis Kelce is a nepo boyfriend. But I recently ate my words. Blake Lively has a stacked Q2 — proving we too can finish the year strong even if we were lagging in the first half.
Blake’s Been Busy: Everything Blake Lively has been up to in 2024
So what are all these projects Lively is so busy with? Surprisingly, a slate of blockbuster films and a brand new business. She’s already embarked upon various press tours, which is why she’s everywhere right now.
Her most prominent, and controversial, venture for the year: starring in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s blockbuster It Ends With Us. This BookTok favorite is divisive to say the least. While Colleen Hoover’s genre of easy-to-read romantic fiction went viral, the literati aren’t a fan. The main point of contention: the writing is stinko. But to each their own. And on this particular book, Hoover’s critics are accusing of profiting from abuse and trauma because the film romanticizes an abusive relationship.
Yet, the power of BookTok compelled the studios to adapt this novel into a big budget movie starring Lively alongside Justin Baldwin, known for Jane The Virgin. For a minute, thanks to last year’s succession of strikes, it looked as though the movie might be scrapped. Call it Lively’s luck, but production continued against all odds and here we are: moments away from its big premiere.
Watch the Trailer for It Ends With Us here:
But that’s not the only press tour Blake is on. She joined her husband Ryan Reynolds on the press tour for Deadpool and Wolverine, even upstaging Reynolds and his co-star Hugh Jackman with her look for the final premiere.
Alongside Gigi Hadid, she appeared on the red carpet at Lady Deadpool. Little did we know, this was a hint of things to come. In case you forgot (I definitely did) Lively had a brief role as Lady Deadpool in the canonically awful Green Lantern films. She kind of reprised the role as the voice of Lady Deadpool in this new movie — just one of many cameos and Easter eggs in Marvel’s latest bloated action flick.
When not campaigning for wife-of-the-year, bestie of the year, or promoting It Ends With Us, she’s been filming the much-awaited sequel to A Simple Favor. She and Anna Kendrick have reprised their roles: mysterious Hot Mom (Lively, obviously) and Bored Mommy Blogger (Kendrick in an abundance of floral sundresses and wedges).
This sequel comes so long after the original because, despite the initial bad reviews, it found another life on streaming platforms. So, get ready to comfort-watch or hate-watch when it comes out — I’ll be doing both.
But Blake isn’t only trying to pump some much needed life back into her acting career. She’s enetered her Business Mogul Era. She’s already founded the brands Betty Buzz and Betty Booze and now she’s branching into beauty. Known for her scorching flowing locks, why wouldn’t she make a haircare brand?
The collection is called Blake Brown Beauty after her maiden name — which Reynolds joked he only just found out. Priced at $25 and under, Blake Brown Beauty is launching exclusively in Target to corner the affordable haircare market. The line consists of shampoos, masks and styling product. If there’s one thing the world needs more of, it’s celebrity beauty brands, right?
Promising to give the world that Blake Lively shine, the brand is a departure form many DTC celebrity beauty ventures, such as Cecred by Beyonce, Rate Beauty by Selena Gomez, or Hailey Bieber’s rhode. Instead, Blake is doing what she does best: going for mass appeal. It’s worked so far, might as well bet the house (or the hair) on it. But let’s be real, unless her shampoos come with a personal stylist and a Hollywood paycheck, we might just be setting ourselves up for disappointment.
This approach is similar to another celebrity whose success Blake takes major cues from: Jennifer Aniston. Before there was Serena, there was Rachel. From inspiring trends to becoming the people’s princess, Aniston and Lively have a lot in common. Namely that they’ve built gigantic careers on an average amount of talent. Pretty privilege is really kind to some.
Now, I’m no hater. I love looking at beautiful people as much as the next person. But as we brace ourselves for a Blake resurgence, someone has to say it: she’s prettier than she is talented.
The truth is, Blake Lively, like Jennifer Aniston, has found her niche. She’s good at being likable, at being the girl next door (if the girl next door lived in a mansion and was married to Deadpool). And in Hollywood, that’s a skill in itself.
So, is Blake Lively overrated? Maybe. Is she the second coming of Meryl Streep? Probably not. But is she good at what she does? Absolutely.
At the end of the day, Blake Lively is like that really pretty, really nice girl from high school who you want to hate but simply can’t. She’s not changing the world, but she’s not trying to. She’s just out here, living her best life, making us all wish we could pull off headbands and making Ryan Reynolds Instagram posts slightly more tolerable.
So here’s to you, Blake Lively. You may not be perfect, you may not be revolutionary, but damn it, you’re doing your thing. And sometimes, that’s enough.
So while I won’t be tuning into her latest slate of films or buying her beauty brand, I’ll be enjoying her press tour simply for the opportunity to decide which of her looks hit, and which of them miss.
PHOTO: Denny Medley/Imagn Images
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