In a stunning display of star power over standings, the Kansas City Chiefs have emerged as the most-watched team of the 2025 NFL regular season, despite finishing with a dismal 6-11 record and missing the playoffs entirely. New viewership data, highlighted by reports from outlets like Marca and the Daily Mail, confirms that the allure of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce kept the team at the centre of national broadcasts, proving that for the NFL, attention is a currency that doesn't always depend on winning.
The Viewership Numbers Defy On-Field Performance
The league's overall television dominance was unmistakable, with regular-season ratings surging by 10% compared to 2024, averaging 18.7 million viewers per game. The Chiefs' presence within this boom was extraordinary. They featured in four of the season's five most-watched games, a rare feat for a team that spent most Sundays on the losing end.
The top draw was the Thanksgiving Day clash where the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Chiefs 31-28, pulling in a massive 57.3 million viewers. The Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions game earlier that day ranked second with 47.7 million. Kansas City's other marquee matchups filled the chart: a rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead averaged 33.8 million viewers, a Week 9 road game against the Buffalo Bills drew 30.9 million, and even a Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos secured a spot in the top five. The message was clear: people tuned in regardless of the result.
The Mahomes-Kelce Magnet and the Cultural 'Swift Effect'
This phenomenon is inextricably linked to the team's headline-generating duo. Patrick Mahomes remains one of the sport's premier television attractions, while Travis Kelce's profile has transcended football, keeping him in the weekly cultural conversation in a way few athletes ever achieve. The Chiefs have become a default appointment for viewers, a habit the standings could not break.
While many fans attribute this pulling power to the "Taylor Swift effect," the reality involves a broader cultural gravity. Kelce's relationship with the global pop icon has undoubtedly expanded the team's audience, but the NFL had already positioned the Chiefs as a prime-time staple for their ability to deliver eyeballs. The "Swift Effect" is a shorthand for this immense influence, exemplified by reports like a Sancerre wine selling out in the US after a brief feature in Swift's docuseries. As Laurent Saget of Terres Blanches noted, the exposure was priceless: "Even if we had wanted to place one of our bottles in such a widely watched series, we couldn't have afforded it."
The NFL's Unstoppable Broadcast Momentum
The league, benefiting from all this attention, doesn't need to choose a single reason for its success. According to the same reports, 89 of the top 100 broadcasts since the regular season began were NFL games. This sets a powerful stage for the postseason, which kicks off with a packed Wild Card round featuring games like the Los Angeles Rams at the Carolina Panthers, the Packers vs. Chicago Bears in prime time, and key Sunday matchups including Buffalo at Jacksonville and Philadelphia hosting San Francisco.
While the Chiefs will be absent from the playoff chase, the NFL is riding a wave of viewership momentum that Kansas City, through its unique blend of sports excellence and celebrity culture, helped build and sustain throughout the entire season. It's a testament to the modern sports era where narrative and star power can sometimes shine as brightly as the victory lights.
