The Minnesota Vikings have said this week they plan on going hard after Taylor Swift's boyfriend, Travis Kelce, in their matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the fans are getting in on the action.
During Aaron Rodgers' weekly appearance on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show, the New York Jets quarterback referred to Kelce as "Mr. Pfizer," following the Chiefs tight end's endorsement deal with Pfizer, promoting the pharmaceutical giant's flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
Prior to kickoff on Sunday, there were several billboards erected with a "Mr Pfizer" jersey en route to US Bank Stadium.
Pfizer clearly leaned into the nickname, and fans used Kelce's relationship with Swift as a chance to troll the Chiefs' tight end.
Billboards spotted around Minneapolis before today?s Chiefs-Vikings game: pic.twitter.com/HpC5V6oKPl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 8, 2023
This billboard in Minnesota today ?
(via @AdamSchefter) pic.twitter.com/F9JM9Gszg2
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 8, 2023
"Oh man, the social media is going crazy," Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy told ESPN, of the Kelce-Swift hysteria. "And I'm not hating against it. That's the world we're living in. Is she going to come to this game? We're locked in, but that would be something. I've been watching her since I was a kid. That would be cool, for sure.
"Not for him, because we're going to try to get our hands on him in front of her."
Kelce is one of the game's most dynamic tight ends, but has become a lightning rod for right-wing political criticism in the aftermath of his Pfizer commercials going live and his social media presence skyrocket thanks to Swift's ardent fans discovering him as their romance blossoms.
Swift was in attendance for each of Kelce's last two games, a showdown against the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 3, and again at MetLife Stadium for a prime time Sunday Night Football showdown against the New York Jets, in Week 4.
The Chiefs and Vikings kickoff at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday in Minneapolis, and both Vikings players and fans appear ready for action.
