A backup dancer on Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has said it was the “play of the game” when his brother spectacularly intercepted a pass on Monday Night Football – immediately after landing a thunderous hit on Swift’s boyfriend – all while the pop superstar watched in person from a luxury box.

The sequence of events that brought together Eras performer Kameron Saunders, his pro football-playing sibling Khalen, Swift and her partner, Travis Kelce, left the 14-time Grammy winner leaning into someone next to her, animatedly pointing at the field in plain view of a television camera, and incredulously saying: “That’s my backup dancer’s brother.”

Kameron Saunders, meanwhile, had a field day on his Instagram account with his brother’s big moment.

Beside one story declaring, “PERIOD!!!!! Play of the game,” he also reposted a video containing the caption: “What in the Eras Tour Travis Taylor Kam Saunders’ brother lore crossover is happening right now”. The dancer summarily declared that “hands down the best clip” he had seen of Khalen Saunders’ turn in the US national spotlight.

Khalen Saunders joined the New Orleans Saints for their 2023 NFL campaign after helping the Kansas City Chiefs win two Super Bowl championships. He and the Saints lost to Kelce’s Chiefs at Kansas City’s Arrowhead stadium by a score of 26-13 on Monday with Swift in attendance – but not until after Khalen Saunders left his mark on the contest.

Late in the third quarter, Kelce caught a pass near the goal line being defended by the Saints, but Saunders tackled him two yards short, with both players’ helmets violently clashing. Kelce seemed visibly shaken after the collision, with one of the television commentators remarking: “That’s one [he] felt – I promise ya.”

On the next play, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes aimed a pass at the end zone to teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster. Saints defender Paulson Adebo hit Smith-Schuster as the Chiefs receiver caught the ball, jostling it free.

Khalen Saunders had instinctively gravitated toward Adebo and Smith-Schuster – and snatched the ball from the air using one hand as it hurtled toward him. He then ran 37 yards in the opposite direction, setting up a Saints score that temporarily allowed them to pull within three points of the Chiefs before Kansas City ultimately got out of the woods.

At 6ft 1in, 324lb, Khalen Saunders is not the smallest man who ever lived. But he impressed the game’s viewers with how he secured the ball against his body after his first career interception and confidently strode toward the goal line the Chiefs were defending – which isn’t always the easiest feat for someone his size – until his opponents finally stopped him.

Among them was Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who suggested on social media that Khalen Saunders must have previously played running back, a position in the sport which primarily involves carrying the football toward the opposing end zone. On his Instagram, Kameron Saunders replied to Murray’s post with: “Actually, yes he did.”

Khalen Saunders’ connection to Swift through Kameron was a storyline heading into and during the game. The broadcast showed a photo of Kameron, Kelce and Swift all performing together on stage during an Eras tour concert at Wembley stadium in London in July.

That image is pinned at the top of Kameron Saunders’ Instagram account with a caption fawning over his proximity to Kelce.

“Trav.. I had the time of my life being an absolute HAM with you on stage,” the caption reads. “This was such a full circle moment for me.

“I have been to countless Chiefs games with my family over the years to support my baby brother … And now for you and I to share the biggest stage in the world with boss lady… full circle! The Saunders family loves you, Trav!”

Asked days before Monday’s showdown whether he was counting on his older brother’s support, Khalen Saunders told reporters that he was indeed expecting it.

“He don’t care about the Chiefs,” the native of St Louis, Missouri, said on video. “He cares about his brother. That’s his boss, but I’m his brother.”

Kameron Saunders, who took a picture with Khalen on the field before Monday’s game, left no doubt about his alliances.

Reposting Khalen’s comments, Kameron wrote: “Of COURSE I care about the Chiefs … just not today!”