Charissa Thompson: NFL Reporter and Animal Lover with a Taylor Swift Connection

Charissa Thompson: NFL Reporter and Animal Lover with a Taylor Swift Connection

Charissa Thompson, an NFL reporter, is a well-respected broadcaster known for her work in football. She hosts various shows during NFL weekends, including Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” pregame and postgame studio host, as well as FOX NFL Kickoff on Sundays. In Week 14, she led into big national games on FOX, such as the Cincinnati Bengals versus the Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packers versus the Chicago Bears. Additionally, she previewed the highly-anticipated “Sunday Night Football” matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans.

Thompson has a unique connection with Grammy award-winning artist Taylor Swift, who is engaged to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The two have attended several NFL games together since Swift started dating Kelce in 2023. Thompson even revealed that she named one of her cats “Taylor Swift” three years before meeting the singer, a fact she shared during a Q&A on her Instagram story.

Aside from her NFL reporting duties, Thompson also owns a 75-acre property in California called Ruby Ranch, where she houses many animals, including six rescued dogs and several cats. She spends time at the ranch during the NFL offseason when her schedule permits, with a team of people helping care for the animals throughout the year. Despite feeling a bit embarrassed about the cat's name, Thompson mentioned that Swift would likely find it amusing if she knew.

While breaking news about pet names is not typical for Thompson, it added a lighthearted touch to the NFL Sunday before Swift's fiance took the spotlight in the Chiefs' crucial game on “Sunday Night Football.”