NFL announces a record-breaking $255.4MILLION salary cap for 2024, marking a massive $30m increase from last year… and fans joke players may have Taylor Swift to thank

In a surprising announcement, the NFL has revealed a salary cap for the 2024 season of $255.4 million, an increase of $30.6 million over the previous year’s cap.

The league cited two reasons for such a large increase. First, teams have fully repaid loans they took out to ensure players received their full salaries during the pandemic-affected 2020 season.

Second, the NFL pointed to “an extraordinary increase in media revenue for the 2024 season” as another reason for the jump.

Since the beginning of the decade, the NFL salary cap has increased by $57.2 million despite a global pandemic that resulted in a decrease of approximately $16 million in 2021.

Compared to 2014, the 2024 budget is $122.4 million higher and the 2004 cap was approximately $174.8 million less than next season.

While the league did not cite a specific reason for the increase in media revenue, many fans concluded that the relentless coverage of Taylor Swift and her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was due to to that.

Many fans posted thanks to Swift or decided to attribute the pay increase almost exclusively to her.

One excited Houston fan wrote: “TAYLOR SWIFT JUST GOT THE TEXANS SUPERBOWL.”

NFL free agency begins March 13 at 4:00 pm ET. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents starting at noon on March 11.

Notable free agents in this year’s class include Chiefs pass rusher Chris Jones, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​and Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.