Move Over Jared Goff: Michigan’s Favorite NFL Player Isn’t On The Detroit Lions

If you asked anyone in Michigan who their favorite NFL player is, you'd probably expect them to say Jared Goff, but unfortunately, the head of the Lions Pride isn't our favorite of all.

Sorry, Jared Goff—while chants of your name echo in Michigan stadiums, it turns out the most popular NFL player in the state isn’t even on the Detroit Lions. In fact, according to new research by FlashPicks, Travis Kelce is the most Googled NFL player in Michigan and across 49 states.

Check out all of the records the Lions broke during their game on Nov 17th ⬇️

Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, receives an incredible 4.75 million searches every month nationwide, dwarfing his teammate Patrick Mahomes, who comes in second with 1.68 million.

But why is Travis Kelce so popular even in Detroit Lions territory? The answer might lie off the field- as his headline-grabbing relationship with global pop superstar Taylor Swift has catapulted him into celebrity territory. Their romance has fans swooning—and Googling—whether they’re football fans or Swifties curious about her new beau. So many of his fans may not even be into sports, giving him a slightly unfair advantage.

What’s perhaps even more surprising is that Jared Goff, who leads the Detroit Lions during their most exciting season in years, didn’t even make the list. While the Lions dominate on the field, it seems Travis Kelce dominates the conversation, proving that in Michigan, Taylor Swift’s influence might just eclipse the Lions football star.

The only state where Kelce isn’t king? Minnesota, where former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins still reigns supreme. Even in Wisconsin, Kelce has to share his throne with Aaron Rodgers. But in Michigan, it’s clear: the NFL player everyone is buzzing about isn’t a Lion—it’s a Chief with a pop-star girlfriend. You can see a full breakdown of the rankings and research at FlashPicks.