Wait. Stop. Before you buy that red jersey, we need to talk about the green one.
Everyone is so used to seeing Taylor Swift in a suite at Arrowhead, high-fiving Brittany Mahomes and wearing custom Chiefs parkas, that we’ve collectively developed a sort of selective amnesia. It’s wild. We’ve forgotten that for literal decades, Taylor was a "Birds" girl. She didn't just casually like the team; she was raised in the trenches of Philadelphia sports culture.
If you grew up in Pennsylvania, you know. It’s not just a hobby. It’s a personality trait.
Lately, seeing Taylor Swift in Eagles gear feels like looking at a photo of an ex-boyfriend you actually liked. It’s nostalgic. It’s a little bit painful for the Philly faithful. But mostly, it’s a reminder that before the "Taylor Swift effect" took over the NFL’s marketing department, she was just a girl from Reading with an oversized sweatshirt and a lyric that started one of the biggest debates in the Swiftie fandom.
The "Gold Rush" Debate: Band vs. Birds
For years, there was this massive, low-stakes civil war happening on Twitter and TikTok.
It all started with a line in the song "gold rush" from the evermore album: "With my Eagles T-shirt hanging from the door." Half the fans were convinced she was talking about the 70s rock band. You know, "Hotel California" vibes. It fit the indie-folk aesthetic of the album. It felt moody. The other half—mostly people who actually know Taylor’s biography—were screaming into the void that she meant the Philadelphia Eagles.
She finally settled it during the Eras Tour at Lincoln Financial Field in May 2023. She looked out at that massive Philly crowd and basically told everyone they were being silly. "I love the band the Eagles," she said, "but guys, like come on. I’m from Philly. Of course, it’s the team."
That was a huge moment. It wasn't just about a shirt. It was about her claiming her "hometown" status in a city that is notoriously protective of who it calls its own.
That Grey Sweatshirt at Electric Lady
If you want the most iconic image of Taylor Swift in Eagles gear, you have to look back to June 2023. This was right before the world exploded with Travis Kelce rumors. Taylor was spotted heading into Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
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She wasn't wearing some high-fashion, "I’m a global superstar" outfit.
She was wearing a massive, oversized grey Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt. It looked vintage. It looked like something you’d find in the back of a closet at your parents’ house in Berks County. She paired it with a green hat and black shorts.
At the time, fans thought she was just being cozy. In hindsight, that sweatshirt was the last vestige of her "original" NFL life. It’s funny how fast things change. A few months later, she’s at a game in Kansas City, and suddenly the "Midnight Green" is replaced by "Chiefs Kingdom Red."
But that grey sweatshirt proved her fandom was authentic. You don't wear a beat-up Eagles crewneck in NYC for "clout." You wear it because it’s your team.
Why the Kelce dynamic makes this so messy
You honestly couldn't script this better.
Taylor Swift, a lifelong Eagles fan, starts dating the star tight end of the team that just beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl. And to make it even more like a Greek tragedy (or a very high-budget rom-com), his brother is Jason Kelce.
Jason is basically the King of Philadelphia.
When Taylor started showing up to Chiefs games, Philly fans were conflicted. On one hand, they love Taylor. On the other hand, they were watching their "homegrown" star cheer for the enemy. Jason Kelce has even joked about this on his podcast and in interviews. He’s mentioned how she "grew up here" and knows exactly what it means to be a fan in that city.
Even as recently as Super Bowl LIX, when the Chiefs and Eagles faced off again, the tension was palpable. By then, Taylor and Travis were engaged, and she was firmly in the Chiefs' corner. Seeing her in the suite, rooting against the team she used to wear on her sleeve, felt like a glitch in the matrix for some.
The documented history of a "Birds" fan
It’s not just one sweatshirt or one lyric. There’s a whole trail of evidence.
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- The 2008 World Series: She performed the national anthem for the Phillies. She was 18. She was wearing a Phillies jersey, but in that region, you’re rarely just a baseball fan. It’s a package deal.
- The 76ers Anthem: She sang the anthem at a Sixers game when she was only 11 years old.
- The 2020 Sightings: There are photos of her in 2020—way before the Travis era—rocking Eagles apparel while working on her albums.
- The Custom Jersey: Years ago, before she moved to Nashville, she actually had a custom Eagles jersey made to perform in.
Basically, the "new" fans who think she just started liking football because of a guy are 100% wrong. She’s been in this world forever. She just changed her colors for love, which is honestly the most Taylor Swift thing she could possibly do.
Can you still be a fan of Taylor Swift and the Eagles?
A lot of Philly fans have struggled with this.
There was a moment during Super Bowl LIX where some fans actually booed when she was shown on the jumbotron. It wasn't personal; it was just "Philly being Philly." Saquon Barkley actually came out later and defended her, saying he didn't understand the hate because she’s made the game so much bigger.
Cooper DeJean, the Eagles cornerback, was asked in a People interview if he thinks she’ll ever come back to the "Birds." His take? "I think it's done now."
He’s probably right. Once you’re engaged to a Kelce who plays for the Chiefs, you’re a Chief for life. Or at least for the duration of that marriage.
But for the fans, Taylor Swift in Eagles gear represents a specific era. It represents the evermore and folklore years. It represents the girl who remembered her roots. You can still buy the "Gold Rush" inspired Eagles merch on Etsy—there’s a huge market for it. It’s a way for Swifties in Pennsylvania to bridge the gap between their favorite artist and their favorite team without feeling like they’re betraying the city.
What this means for the future of NFL marketing
The league isn't stupid. They saw what happened when Taylor's Philly roots collided with her Kansas City present.
It created a narrative that lasted two full seasons. We saw a massive spike in jersey sales, not just for Travis, but for "Taylor-adjacent" gear. The Eagles even leaned into it, using her lyrics in social media posts.
It’s a masterclass in how celebrity culture and sports culture have become inseparable. Whether she’s wearing a vintage Eagles sweatshirt or a custom Chiefs jacket, she’s moving the needle.
Actionable insights for fans and collectors
If you're looking to track down the specific Taylor Swift in Eagles gear looks or understand her history, here is what you should actually do:
- Look for Vintage, not New: The sweatshirt she wore to Electric Lady was a throwback. If you want that look, don't go to the NFL shop. Go to eBay or Depop and search for "90s Philadelphia Eagles crewneck grey."
- Listen to "Seven": If you want to understand her connection to Pennsylvania, listen to the lyrics of "seven" on folklore. It explains the "Christmas tree farm" upbringing that fueled her early fandom.
- Watch 'The End of an Era': The Disney+ docuseries actually shows her in rehearsals wearing Philly gear. It’s some of the best footage of her "original" sports persona before the Chiefs takeover.
- Respect the Rivalry: If you’re a Chiefs fan wearing Eagles gear because of Taylor, be careful in Philadelphia. They take that stuff seriously. Conversely, if you're an Eagles fan, it's okay to admit she was one of yours first.
At the end of the day, Taylor Swift's wardrobe is a map of her life. Right now, that map points to Kansas City. But if you look closely at the older layers, you'll always find a little bit of Philadelphia green underneath. It's part of the lore. And in the world of Taylor Swift, the lore is everything.