Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has addressed the growing criticism from fans who believe that Travis Kelce’s recent underperformance is due to his relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Many fans and media pundits have speculated that Swift is a “distraction” for Kelce, especially following a game against the Atlanta Falcons where Kelce had a subpar performance (four receptions for 30 yards).

Some have even suggested that Kelce’s slower start this season, where he has just eight catches for 69 yards through three games, could be due to his relationship with the highly visible Swift.

Reid, however, has come to Kelce’s defense, dismissing the notion that Swift is causing any distraction. He emphasized that Kelce is still working hard and that opposing defenses are simply focusing on limiting his impact. Reid said, “I know people are saying that he’s old or that he has distractions (meaning Swift), but defenses don’t think that… He’s not distracted. [The defenses we’ve played] are making sure he’s taken care of.”

Kelce himself also addressed the situation on his “New Heights” podcast, downplaying the rumors and suggesting that the media is overblowing the situation. Both Reid and Kelce seem focused on dispelling the narrative that the tight end’s relationship is impacting his performance on the field, despite fans’ frustrations