Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo accuses NFL of fixing Kansas City Chiefs games to get Taylor Swift boost

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has had it with the Kansas City Chiefs and the perceived “favorable calls” the two-time defending Super Bowl champions have allegedly received in recent weeks.

And he’s blaming the Chiefs’ most recognizable fan: Taylor Swift.

During a heated First Take discussion about what many NFL fans believe are biased penalties that favor the Kansas City and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Russo embraced his inner conspiracy theorist and suggested the league is purposely rigging Chiefs playoff games in an effort to keep Swift and her diehard fanbase engaged.

The topic has been picking up steam on social media after last Saturday’s Chiefs-Texans game where Houston was flagged multiple times for somewhat innocuous plays involving Mahomes, including two 15-yard penalties where the Kansas City quarterback appeared to purposely draw late contact.

“It you’re going to go this far with this dribble, this assinine take that you’re giving, what would be the motivation, why do you think the NFL is doing that?” First Take host Stephen A. Smith asked Russo during Wednesday morning’s show.

Russo didn’t hesitate, citing Swift before implying the appearance of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark — a self-described lifelong Chiefs fan — in tight end Travis Kelce‘s family suite on Saturday was a publicity stunt.

“Well Taylor Swift, … (and) Caitlin Clark,” Russo said as Smith and ESPN’s Jeff Saturday reacted. “We watched Caitlin Clark for months, years light up basketball, great player, changed the WNBA, the whole nine yards, and now she’s a Len Dawson fan from 50 years ago. It’s a little rough. … I’ve had it with the Chiefs.”

Of course, Russo isn’t the only one that believes the NFL is coordinating games to keep Swift and her fanatical fans tuning into games.

Skip Bayless claims NFL is fixing Chiefs games to ensure Taylor Swift at Super Bowl LIX

Skip Bayless believes the NFL is doing whatever it takes to get the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX so Taylor Swift can be in attendance. On The Skip Bayless Show, Bayless claimed that the league is fixing Chiefs games because the NFL wants Swift in New Orleans.

“Josh Allen and the Bills are up against a 60-man juggernaut. That’s 53 Chiefs and seven referees,” Skip Bayless said when talking about the upcoming AFC Championship game, per Awful Announcing. “The memo will go out, just as it did last week, ‘make sure Taylor Swift makes it to New Orleans for the Super Bowl.’ Without her, the NFL loses millions and millions of viewers who will tune in, mostly to see what she’s wearing up in that Superdome luxury box. So Mahomes, teetering though he might, must be propped up. Must be protected by the referees, just the way he was Saturday, at home against the Texans.”

Bayless made this claim after the Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round on Saturday. During the game, fans sounded off on officials after the Texans were penalized for roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness on Mahomes, and both penalties extended drives for the Chiefs.

“This is the Taylor Swift effect,” Bayless stated. “She is a one-woman ratings juggernaut. ‘Protect her! Prop her up! Award her boyfriend’s team with phantom penalties. Get them to New Orleans! The NFL needs the Swifties. Protect ‘em! Prop ‘em up! Make sure the Chiefs advance!’”

Brian Jones contributed to this report.