Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice played it cool around Taylor Swift.
In the latest installment of the “Airing It Out” podcast with former NFL wideout TJ Houshmandzadeh, Rice explained why he didn’t ask the pop superstar — who’s dating his teammate, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce — for a photo when he saw her during a group outing.
“I’ve seen her, but I didn’t go up to her like, ‘Can I get a picture’ or nothing like that,” the 23-year-old rookie said.
“Because, you know, those guys like Trav and Pat [Mahomes], they invite us out because they know that we are the only guys that see them every day and see them as who they really are and not ‘Bro, you’re a superstar football player.’
“No, it’s just Pat. It’s just Trav. And I wouldn’t go up to another dude’s girl and be like, ‘I get a picture with you?’
“If my girl was out I’d be like, ‘Can we get a picture with the girls together,’ but I’ve got nothing to do with that.”
Rice went on to praise Swift for supporting the Chiefs.
“I’m happy for Trav and she is real good with support for the team,” he said. “She has brought a lot more fans to the team too.”
Rice was correct when he said Swift has brought more fans to the NFL.
Swifties have helped increase ticket sales and jersey revenue since the couple was first linked in September.
The “Cruel Summer” singer nearly broke the internet when she arrived at the Chiefs-Bears game at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 24.
Kelce and Swift, both 34, went public with their relationship in October, and it’s become a sports and pop culture phenomenon.
Even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell believes it’s a good thing for the league.
“Listen, they’re happy,” Goodell said during an interview with “CBS Mornings” last month. “They seem to be enjoying their relationship. That’s great in and of itself, but it has connected more fans of Taylor’s and more fans of the NFL in some ways.
“[Swift is] an unbelievable artist, obviously, Travis is an unbelievable player and I think it’s great for the league to have that kind of attention – so we welcome it.”
Swift was in attendance for the Chiefs’ win against the Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium — one of her favorite venues to perform at — where she was greeted with signs and cheers from fans of both teams.
Kelce praised the Patriots organization and New England fans for showing love and hospitality to Swift at Sunday’s game.
“I’ll say this, they showed Taylor at the game,” Kelce told his brother and co-host, Eagles center Jason Kelce said on their “New Heights” podcast Wednesday. “And, I mean, you don’t see an entire home team fan base go insane for somebody wearing the opposite team’s colors.
“[It] just shows you how amazing that girl is. They went absolutely insane when they showed Taylor on the screen.”
Swift will be in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day and for their home game against the Cincinnati Bengals on New Year’s Eve, according to Page Six.
