Tight End University has become a cultural movement over the last few years. Since its inception in 2021, the event continues to grow by leaps and bounds, with more athletes and superstars joining the fray to raise money for charity.
At the 2025 iteration of the event, though, people in attendance were treated to a blockbuster surprise when pop star Taylor Swift joined country singer Kane Brown on stage for a performance. The ultra-supportive girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had intricate connections to the event, but her performance even drew massive applause from Pat McAfee.
Pat McAfee Praises Taylor Swift’s Show-Stopping Performance at Tight End University
The three-day event included musical performances as part of the “Tight Ends & Friends” concert, including Jordan Davis and Chase Rice. However, Swift’s performance turned into an entirely different experience for fans in attendance.
With over 75 tight ends in attendance for the event organized by Kelce, George Kittle and Greg Olsen, the public already had a lot of star power to admire. But the video of Swift performing her iconic 2014 hit “Shake It Off” instantly went viral.
It even caught the attention of Pat McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts punter turned NFL analyst and WWE commentator. On his podcast, “The Pat McAfee Show,” he had immense praise for the 35-year-old music superstar’s performance.
“Whenever two greats are dating together, it feels like you hit a supernova of sorts of talent, and inspiration, and motivation, and also, collaboration,” McAfee said. “Down in Nashville, Tight End University, the biggest star on Earth shows up and plays in front of a thousand football fans.”
TAYLOR SWIFT AT TIGHT END UNIVERSITY 👏#PMSLive https://t.co/bNUVzJZB35 pic.twitter.com/9aHdVTkvTU
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 27, 2025
Joking about every male member of the public who brought their female significant other becoming “heroes,” McAfee added, “Taylor doing a football activity in the offseason. Hey, we appreciate it. She’s football.”
With an open show for the public and $35 standing-room tickets available, the entire evening focused on raising money for charity. All proceeds from ticket sales went towards that cause. Tight End University events have raised over $900,000 for various charities.
This year, younger stars like 25-year-old Trey McBride and 22-year-old Brock Bowers also joined the party to support a heartwarming initiative from an illustrious group of some of the game’s all-time greats.
The agenda was clear in their official mission statement: “Tight End University was created to bring the tight end community together for an immersive three-day program. Over the course of the summit, attendees are able to bond, collaborate with, and learn amongst their peers while participating in a variety of activities including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation, and more.”
With training camp right around the corner, the fifth annual Tight End University offered fans a perfect show while giving young tight ends around the league valuable experience to take back with them into the 2025 season.