With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the theme of love always emerges, yet this time it has arrived in an unexpected area: the NFL. Since the NFL’s founding in 1920, the league has always been about football. This seems self-explanatory, right? It’s called the National Football League. But with the world’s eagerness to get updates about the relationships within it, many are starting to question whether the NFL’s main purpose is to broadcast football, or if it has shifted to show the relationships viewers want to see.

There’s no question in mind that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are the hot topic in terms of celebrity relationships. With Swift’s new album announcement on February 4 and Kelce, member of the Kansas City Chiefs, playing at the Super Bowl, news headlines are eager to publish any sort of information on the two lovers.

Yet Swift’s eminent sightings at Kelce’s games have shifted the focus from the football game to what Swift is doing in the stands, sparking questions by many on whether broadcasting the relationship of Swift and Kelce is a means of profit.

Junior Rachel McNulty gave insight to this, saying, “Honestly, I just think it’s the NFL giving people what they want. Taylor and Travis being seen together is pretty uncommon, so any chance people get to see them together, they will.”

The belief that the NFL is merely giving their viewers what they want is perceived by many, yet others believe it is used for greater profit.

Junior Jacque Timmins explains, “The NFL knows how much money they can make if Swift fans know they’re going To see their favorite couple on TV. If they want to make a lot of profit, this kind of thing is the perfect way to do it.”

Swift is clearly aware of this, and like anyone with a camera constantly shoved in their face, has tried to set boundaries. At one of Kelce’s recent games, she told the broadcaster in a polite tone, “Go away, please.”

Such exploitation even has Swift questioning the NFL’s motives, yet unfortunately, it is not limited to her and Kelce, as other celebrities such as TikTok star Alix Earle and actress Hailee Steinfeld have been the center of the camera at any of their NFL presences.

Widening one’s audience is a goal all media broadcasters have, yet the realization that the NFL has gone too far with this goal is understood by many.

Junior Alyson Truong noticed such behaviors by the NFL. She said, “Half the people who are watching Miami Dolphins games don’t even know who Braxton Berrios is, they’re just watching it for Alix Earle. The NFL knows this, so they’ll probably focus the camera on Alix’s face for all of Braxton’s future games.”

A similar sentiment is reflected for actress Hailee Steinfeld, with Junior Mae Anthony explaining, “I know so many people who are only watching NFL games to see Hailee Steinfeld.”

Is it merely an act of courtesy to let fans follow along with their favorite couples, or an exploitation of such relationships to make this enormous profit?

Nevertheless, most people are still excited for the next time they can see their favorite couple broadcasted. NFL relationships like these should not be perceived as only negative–they’re able to show how strong love truly is, even with millions of people watching you on live television.