Why The NFL Is More Popular Among Young Women Than Ever

The NFL is king in the United States. Some people even say the league owns a day of the week. Between September and February, couches around the United States are filled with fans watching games. Women have always enjoyed watching football. However, many women weren't always willing to rearrange their days to lay eyes on the best games. That trend changed during the middle of the 2023 season, though. Women started changing their daily routines around to watch games.

The stats were so incredible that women's products were advertised during commercial breaks of games. Most of the time, the commercials revolve around beer and other things deemed to be "manly." The 2024 Super Bowl was the second most-watched event on television in the history of the United States. The only event to beat it was the landing of Apollo 11 on the moon. The NFL has realized how powerful it is to have women watching their events.

Another positive for teams to come from more women watching is that the salary cap went up more than was expected. There was more ad revenue for the league which meant more money to spread out. It went up from just under $225 million to $255 million. If women continue to watch the NFL at the same rate, teams will hand out more record-breaking contracts. The key is for the NFL to figure out how to keep the eyes of young women on the game. But why is the NFL so popular among young women in 2024? (For more sports content, click here to read about 13 football facts most fans didn't know.)

To answer the question of why the NFL is more popular among young women than ever, 24/7 Tempo consulted sports-related sources. These include Morning Consult Pro, ESPN, and NFL.com.

Ever since Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift announced their relationship together, the NFL has seen a meteoric rise in viewership among young women. "Swifties," as Swift's fans are known, are some of the most passionate fans in the world. They live and die by her every move. While most Swifties didn't prioritize watching sports, when they found out Swift was dating Kelce, they immediately tuned in.

Swift herself is a sports fan. She grew up a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. She brought a whole new audience to the NFL who hadn't ever watched before. It also helps that Kelce plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, the back-to-back reigning Super Bowl champions. Swift and Kelce appear to have a healthy and happy relationship together. In late June 2024, Kelce made his first appearance on stage during the Eras Tour in London.

Something the NFL has to be continually thinking about is how to keep the eyes of Swifties on the sport even after Kelce retires. Many NFL fans would argue that Kelce only has about two good years left of football in his body. By the end of the 2024 regular season, Kelce will be 35. The fact that he's still putting up amazing stats each year is remarkable. The NFL is undoubtedly thinking of ways to market the game and ensure that their new fans will still feel welcomed and want to watch.

The easiest way to keep the attention of Swifties is by continuing to highlight relationships between players and "it" girls. An it girl is someone young women follow for their day-to-day life updates. There are tons of high-profile relationships in the NFL today, aside from Kelce and Swift. One of the relationships that doesn't get as much attention as it should is Ciara and Russell Wilson. While the last two seasons haven't gone as Wilson wanted, he and Ciara should be highlighted more by the NFL.

There are plenty of great players in the NFL who are in relationships with successful women. As previously mentioned, Russell Wilson and Ciara have been a power couple for years. However, with Wilson's declining play, the league likely won't highlight them. One couple who recently got married is Christian McCaffrey and Olivia Culpo. The two were dating for multiple years before officially locking each other down in the middle of 2024.

Another power couple the NFL could easily push is Joe Burrow and Olivia Holzmacher. Over the years, Burrow has become a fan favorite among girls. Many women love the charm and height Burrow has. He possesses confidence and doesn't get into any trouble. As more players enter the league, more potential power couples will pop up. (Next, read about the most embarrassing football seasons in history.)