"I literally drenched her in sweat": Pat McAfee reveals his awkward first encounter with Taylor Swift

P at McAfee has shared an unusually memorable story about his first proper conversation with Taylor Swift , and it involved a selfie, a hug and considerably more sweat than the ESPN personality would have preferred.

McAfee was working Kansas City Chiefs-Denver Broncos coverage at Arrowhead Stadium on September 14 when he made his way into the private suite occupied by Swift , her mother Andrea , Travis Kelce 's family and several celebrity guests.

The Chiefs eventually won the game 31-10, but McAfee's interaction with Swift became one of the more entertaining stories to emerge from the night.

The sports personality explained on his self-titled ESPN program that he had already briefly encountered Swift at her July wedding to Kelce , but the Chiefs ' season opener gave him an opportunity to actually speak with her.

The situation immediately became memorable for an entirely different reason: "Got a chance to chitchat with Miss Taylor Swift last night. Huge day… On the way out, I go, ‘Miss Taylor, is there any way I can get a selfie with you?’ She said, ‘Absolutely!’"

McAfee said Swift was welcoming when he approached her and recalled the exchange before describing the hug that followed: "She was so kind. So hospitable. I go, ‘Miss Taylor’, and she goes, ‘Pat!’ I go, ‘How are you?’"

The problem was that McAfee had arrived in the suite after spending time working around the stadium, and the conditions had left him sweating heavily.

He acted out the hug during his show before delivering the punchline: "Just sweat all over her."

McAfee then remembered immediately apologizing to Swift for the awkward introduction: "So sorry that this happened. Great to meet you. You're the best."

The story was confirmed by other accounts of the evening, with McAfee explaining that he had been "dripping in sweat" after making his way through the stadium. People reported that Swift responded warmly and that she was "all in" throughout the game.

Taylor Swift was completely invested in Travis Kelce's season opener

While McAfee's sweaty introduction provided the comic moment, his bigger takeaway from the suite was just how engaged Swift was with the game.

Swift was attending her first Chiefs game since marrying Kelce over the summer. She watched from a suite alongside Andrea Swift, Donna Kelce, Jason Kelce and actor Tom Cruise , among others.

"She's all in," McAfee said of the new Mrs Kelce. "Every snap. It was... that was the most into-it suite we've ever been in."

He particularly remembered Kelce's 59-yard reception during the game: "Everybody in there was all in, and then [Travis] had that [59]-yard catch. We were in there for that. Oh my god. That was like what being a football fan was like… because I don't know how much she was into football. Watching them experience a game was fantastic."

Kelce's long reception was significant beyond the excitement it generated in the suite. During the game, he moved into second place on the NFL's all-time receiving-yardage list for tight ends, passing Jason Witten and moving behind only Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez .

Swift's presence also came despite the fact that the Emmy Awards were taking place the same night in Los Angeles.

Her concert special, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show, had received five nominations, although its category had already been decided at the Creative Arts Emmys, where The Muppet Show won outstanding variety special (pre-recorded).

Swift also appeared in a prerecorded Law & Order: Special Victims Unit segment featuring host Mariska Hargitay .

McAfee also revealed another detail from inside the high-profile suite: Andrea Swift had brought candied bacon for the group to enjoy while watching the game.

For McAfee , though, the food and football were secondary to the bizarre circumstances of finally getting a proper introduction to one of the world's biggest music stars.

After asking Swift for a selfie, receiving a hug and promptly covering her in sweat, the broadcaster can at least say his first real conversation with her is unlikely to be forgotten by either of them.

And despite the awkward beginning, McAfee's overall impression was clear: Swift appeared completely invested in supporting her husband as Kelce began his 14th NFL season.