The NFL kickoff frenzy: Brittany Mahomes and other WAGs heat up the new season with their iconic SI bikini shoots

The NFL season is finally back, and Brittany Mahomes and a group of high-profile football WAGs are already stealing plenty of attention away from the gridiron.

As players returned to action for the opening week, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit revisited one of 2026’s most talked-about features, putting the spotlight back on six women who shared its February digital cover.

Brittany Mahomes, Claire Kittle, Ronika Love, Haley Cavinder, Christen Goff and Normani were photographed together for the special issue on Captiva Island, Florida.

The shoot brought together women from sports, entertainment, business and digital media, all of whom happen to have connections to NFL stars. SI presented the group by highlighting their individual careers, businesses and influence.

When SI Swimsuit recently shared throwback bikini images from the February digital edition on Instagram, the post quickly attracted attention from the featured women themselves.

Brittany responded with three emojis - a heart-eyes face, fire and heart hands - while Claire Kittle enthusiastically commented, “Nothing better!”

Ronika Love also joined the conversation with a playful “I peaked here,” while Haley Cavinder called it “the best time of the year.” The reactions added to a fun shoot that had already generated significant buzz when the six digital covers were unveiled in February.

Brittany Mahomes steals the spotlight again

Mahomes had another reason to celebrate as her husband, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, made his much-anticipated return to NFL action.

The quarterback missed the latter part of the previous campaign after suffering a season-ending knee injury, making his appearance in the Chiefs’ season opener an especially significant moment.

Brittany marked the occasion with a standout denim game-day outfit and shared an emotional message on Instagram celebrating her husband’s return. Fans quickly flooded the comments with praise for her look and excitement about seeing Patrick back on the field.

The comeback proved successful for the Chiefs, who defeated the Denver Broncos 31-10. Mahomes completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 23 yards and another score. His 15-yard rushing touchdown was particularly meaningful, giving him confidence that his recovery work had paid off.

Meanwhile, Claire Kittle has been enjoying her own football-related celebrations. Her SI Swimsuit debut has placed her alongside Mahomes and four other prominent women, while she continues working as a content creator and brand founder. She also celebrated husband George Kittle’s return to the field during San Francisco’s opening-week victory.

With football officially back, the attention surrounding these women shows how much the modern WAG conversation has changed.