Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Credits Taylor Swift Candle for Team's Winning Streak

Mar. 15, 2025

Craig Counsell, Taylor Swift.Photo:getty (2)

getty (2)

Taylor Swiftis being credited for a sports team’s success — and it’s not the Kansas City Chiefs.The singer, 34, who is currently dating Chiefs tight endTravis Kelce, 34, has received praise fromChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsellfor playing a part in the team’s newfound winning streak afterwinning five of their last six games.Counsell, 54, hilariously referred to the streak as a direct result of his “Taylor Swift candle” while speaking withMarquee Sports Networkin an interview published on Tuesday, Aug. 27.“I was gifted a Taylor Swift candle, and we’ve been lighting that before games in my office — clubhouse manager Danny Miller [and I]. We’ve been on a nice little run here, so we’re going to credit Taylor Swift,” he said.While Swift may be indirectly helping the MLB team, Chicago football fans may remember that she made her first NFL game-day appearance in support of Kelce atthe Chiefs' Sept. 24, 2023, game against the Bears.Held at Arrowhead Stadium,the game ended with the Chiefs beating the Bears, 41-10. The Chiefs wouldwin 10 of the 13 games the pop star attended, including the2024 Super Bowl.Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift after the 2024 Super Bowl.Ezra Shaw/GettyDuring a press conference in February, NFL CommissionerRoger Goodellcredited Swift forbringing high ratingsand an increase in viewership to games.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“I think it’s great to have her a part of it," he said. “It creates a buzz, it creates another group of young fans — particularly young women — that are interested in seeing, ‘Why is she going to this game? Why is she interested in this game?’ Besides Travis, she is a football fan, and I think that’s great for us.“Taylor Swift performing on March 17, 2023.John Shearer/GettySwift candidly opened up about supporting Kelce at his gamesin an interview forTime’s 2023 Person of the Year.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she said. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.”

Taylor Swiftis being credited for a sports team’s success — and it’s not the Kansas City Chiefs.

The singer, 34, who is currently dating Chiefs tight endTravis Kelce, 34, has received praise fromChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsellfor playing a part in the team’s newfound winning streak afterwinning five of their last six games.

Counsell, 54, hilariously referred to the streak as a direct result of his “Taylor Swift candle” while speaking withMarquee Sports Networkin an interview published on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

“I was gifted a Taylor Swift candle, and we’ve been lighting that before games in my office — clubhouse manager Danny Miller [and I]. We’ve been on a nice little run here, so we’re going to credit Taylor Swift,” he said.

While Swift may be indirectly helping the MLB team, Chicago football fans may remember that she made her first NFL game-day appearance in support of Kelce atthe Chiefs' Sept. 24, 2023, game against the Bears.

Held at Arrowhead Stadium,the game ended with the Chiefs beating the Bears, 41-10. The Chiefs wouldwin 10 of the 13 games the pop star attended, including the2024 Super Bowl.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift after the 2024 Super Bowl.Ezra Shaw/Getty

Ezra Shaw/Getty

During a press conference in February, NFL CommissionerRoger Goodellcredited Swift forbringing high ratingsand an increase in viewership to games.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“I think it’s great to have her a part of it,” he said. “It creates a buzz, it creates another group of young fans — particularly young women — that are interested in seeing, ‘Why is she going to this game? Why is she interested in this game?’ Besides Travis, she is a football fan, and I think that’s great for us.”

Taylor Swift performing on March 17, 2023.John Shearer/Getty

John Shearer/Getty

Swift candidly opened up about supporting Kelce at his gamesin an interview forTime’s 2023 Person of the Year.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she said. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.”

source: people.com