OMG! NFL superstar Jake Ferguson reveals he still hasn’t washed his hands 11 months after meeting Taylor Swift

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In a year of career highs and off-field milestones, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson added an unexpected memory to his highlight reel: a personal encounter with the biggest pop star in the world — Taylor Swift.

And no, he still hasn’t washed his hand.

Ferguson, who recently signed a massive four-year, $52 million contract extension with the Cowboys, is currently in Oxnard, California for training camp. But even as he focuses on bouncing back from a disappointing 7–10 season with hopes of a playoff push, one surreal moment from earlier in the summer is still lingering — literally — on his skin.

“I shook her hand,” Ferguson recalled on The Sweet Spot, a Texas-based sports radio show on 96.7FM/1310 The Ticket.
“I still haven’t washed my hand.”

The 25-year-old NFL rising star, known for his reliable hands and gritty attitude on the field, revealed that he met Swift in Nashville while attending Tight End University — the off-season training summit founded by his peers Travis Kelce and George Kittle.

While fans expected country star Kane Brown to be the main attraction, Swift stunned the crowd by stepping on stage for a surprise performance. And for Ferguson, the night only got better from there.

“She’s so normal,” he said, laughing. “She met my fiancée, and my fiancée was like, ‘She’s so nice!’ Not that I was expecting anything different, but still — she really knew football. She was talking like, ‘We [the Chiefs] got a big game at Cowboys this year!’”

Swift, of course, is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, a co-host of the event and arguably the most recognizable face in the NFL right now aside from Patrick Mahomes. Kelce and Swift’s high-profile romance has brought unprecedented crossover attention to the league, with Swift’s appearances at Chiefs games regularly driving record-breaking viewership.

A Thanksgiving Showdown in Texas

And yes, Swift had her facts right — the Chiefs are scheduled to face off against the Cowboys in a Thanksgiving Day matchup this season, one of the most highly anticipated games of the year.

For Ferguson, who’s entering his third season as Dallas’s lead tight end, it’s a chance to prove his mettle against the defending Super Bowl champions. But more than that, it’s a potential full-circle moment — a chance to line up opposite Kelce, the man who started Tight End U and indirectly introduced him to Taylor Swift.

“If she’s on the sidelines, I’ll be ready,” Ferguson joked. “Maybe I’ll try to get a handshake upgrade.”

Love, Football, and the Cavinder Connection

The moment was even more memorable because Ferguson wasn’t alone — he attended the event with his fiancée, Haley Cavinder, the former Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball star turned social media influencer and WWE recruit.

Cavinder and her twin sister, Hanna, rose to fame not only for their on-court success but also for pioneering the new era of college athletes profiting from NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) endorsements. Haley has since leaned into entrepreneurship, media, and wrestling — but she still makes time to support Ferguson at games and training.

“It was cool for both of us,” Ferguson said. “Meeting someone like Taylor — who’s obviously a global icon — but having her treat us just like normal people, it meant a lot.”

From Underdog to Franchise Cornerstone

Jake Ferguson wasn’t exactly a household name when he entered the NFL in 2022 as a fourth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin. But over the past two seasons, he’s steadily climbed the ranks, becoming one of the Cowboys’ most reliable offensive weapons.

His breakout 2023 campaign — which saw him haul in 78 receptions for 887 yards and six touchdowns — earned him not only Pro Bowl buzz but also a new contract that secures his place in Dallas’s long-term future.

And he did it the hard way — through consistency, physical play, and an unflinching willingness to block, grind, and make the tough catches across the middle.

“He’s earned everything,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said last week. “The way Jake works, the way he leads — he’s the kind of player you build around.”

Now, with Dak Prescott expected to return fully healthy, Ferguson is one of the key pieces in what many fans hope will be a revitalized offense in 2025.

A Season to Rewrite the Story

Last season was, by all accounts, a disappointment. After opening with promise, the Cowboys were derailed by injuries — most notably to quarterback Dak Prescott — and stumbled to a 7–10 finish, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

But Ferguson believes that adversity only made the team hungrier.

“Obviously, last year wasn’t what we wanted,” he said. “But we’ve got the right guys in the room. We’ve got leaders, we’ve got dogs. We’re not letting that happen again.”

With star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb entering his prime, Micah Parsons anchoring the defense, and now Ferguson locked in for the long term, the Cowboys are looking to turn the page — and they’ll have to do it against a brutal schedule that includes the Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, and a rising Lions team.

“I love it,” Ferguson said. “Big games bring out the best in us. That Thanksgiving game? It’s gonna be fireworks.”

The Swift Effect

While the moment with Swift was lighthearted, it also underscored something bigger: the cultural influence that the pop star has had on the NFL.

From jersey sales to primetime ratings to off-field conversations, Swift’s presence around the league has made it cool to talk football again — even in circles that once ignored the sport.

For players like Ferguson, who grew up idolizing tight ends like Jason Witten and Rob Gronkowski, seeing the position at the center of pop culture feels like a strange, exciting full-circle moment.

“I never thought going to Tight End U would mean getting introduced to Taylor Swift,” Ferguson said, smiling. “But that’s football right now — it’s bigger than ever.”

And while he may not have Kelce’s championship rings (yet), or his dance moves, Ferguson has something few others can claim: a handshake he’ll never forget.

“I’m keeping that memory locked in,” he said. “And yeah — maybe the hand, too.”