Patrick Mahomes has been at the center of plenty of big moments in Kansas City, but this week’s headline came from an unexpected place, a casual FaceTime call that gave him a sneak peek into one of the most anticipated podcast episodes of the year.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback revealed that he learned of Taylor Swift’s upcoming appearance on teammate Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast in a way that had more to do with his wife than with him.
Kelce and Swift had just wrapped recording the episode with Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center and Travis’ co-host, when they decided to share the news.
“I knew before y’all did, just because like they called me after the podcast was done,” Mahomes explained. “They didn’t call me, they called Brittany, I was in the back of the FaceTime.”
Mahomes laughed as he recounted the moment, admitting that the excitement seemed aimed more at Brittany than himself.
The story highlighted the growing friendship between Brittany Mahomes and Swift, who have been seen together at Chiefs games over the past two seasons, often cheering from the same suite at Arrowhead Stadium.
Swift’s podcast debut fuels record-breaking speculation
Swift’s “New Heights” appearance, set to premiere at 7:00 p.m. EST, has already captured global attention.
The episode is expected to feature the announcement of her next album, something the show’s social media team has been teasing in recent days.
“What better place to announce [the album] than the ‘New Heights’ podcast, where I feel like she can be herself and showcase who she is,” Mahomes said.
While fans are eager for the album reveal, others are eyeing the numbers. Could Swift’s guest spot push the show into record-breaking territory?
The current global podcast viewership record belongs to Saudi Arabia’s “Fnjan Podcast,” which drew nearly 145 million views.
In the United States, the benchmark sits at 69 million views, set by an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” featuring Elon Musk.
The Kelce brothers’ own high-water mark came with an episode featuring Jason’s wife, Kylie, which reached 8.9 million views.
Given Swift’s worldwide fanbase of more than 280 million Instagram followers, industry watchers believe the numbers could easily eclipse anything the show has achieved so far.
Swift’s history suggests she can deliver in long-form formats. Her “73 Questions” interview with Vogue nine years ago has amassed over 40 million views on YouTube, proving the appetite for more personal, unfiltered conversations with the singer.
For Mahomes, though, the upcoming episode is less about records and more about the fun of being connected to one of the most talked-about cultural moments of the NFL offseason. “I’m supporting them,” he said with a smile, ready to tune in when the podcast drops.
Whether or not it becomes the most-watched podcast in history, one thing is clear: when the worlds of the NFL and Taylor Swift collide, people pay attention. And for Mahomes, it all started with a FaceTime call he was never really meant to be part of.
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