One of Iowa's Favorite Teams Featured in New Hallmark Movie

While it's pretty easy to figure out if an Iowan has their loyalty tied to the Hawkeyes or the Cyclones, figuring out their favorite NFL team is a bit tougher. Obviously with no professional football team, NFL fandom is a bit all over the map in this state. However, one team has proven to be enduringly popular, particularly in recent years, as they've become a dynastic powerhouse in the league.

That team is the Kansas City Chiefs, who are once again garnering about as much attention off the field as they are on the field. Sure, once again, they are off to a hot start. They're 11-1, and their Black Friday win against the Raiders led them to clinch a playoff spot for the 10th straight season. This holiday season, however, the Chiefs are likely going to be getting a lot of attention from Christmas movie fans alike.

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Would you expect anyone else besides the Hallmark Christmas Movie Industrial Complex to commission a holiday flick revolving around a love story in conjunction with the Kansas City Chiefs? At first blush, it'd be fair for you to assume that this story would be a pat reworking of the highly publicized romance between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and global superstar Taylor Swift...

However, this story doesn't involve tight ends nor pop stars. At least not directly. Hallmark worked with the NFL to commission a more original story that actually licenses league trademarks and logos. That's a blessing in itself, for we don't have to watch a movie about the "Missouri Warriors" or something kitschy like that.

The film is called Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, and tells the story of a woman who has assumed the crown of being a superfan of the Kansas City Chiefs from her football-obsessed family. It's all a part of a big competition known as the "Fan of the Year," and the odds are in the woman's, Alana Higman, favor to win the competition and the love of her life:

Alana Higman is sure that her family’s lifelong history as Kansas City Chiefs superfans makes them a frontrunner to win the team’s “Fan of the Year” contest. Derrick, Director of Fan Engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two
finalists. As the pair spends time together, it’s clear there’s a spark between them but when her grandfather’s vintage Chiefs good-luck winter hat goes missing, Alana begins to doubt everything she believed about fate, destiny and even questions her future with Derrick – unless, that is, a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary. - per the Hallmark Channel's website

Alana and Derrick are played by Hunter King and Tyler Hynes, respectively. Holiday Touchdown also stars popular character actor Ed Begley, Jr. as Alana's father. Diedrich Bader from The Drew Carey Show also has a supporting role in the film.

The film premiered on the Hallmark Channel on November 30th amidst the long Thanksgiving weekend. It is set to air as part of the network's Christmas schedule, with its next airing to be Wednesday, December 4th at 7pm CST. You can stay posted on when Holiday Touchdown airs and where to stream it when it becomes available on the Hallmark Channel's website.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Kansas City Chiefs will be the first team to play in a game streamed live on Netflix. On Christmas Day no less! The Chiefs will be taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh on December 25th. The game will kick off at 12pm (local time) on Netflix with the Chiefs likely to be favored.

Talk about a holiday double-header, if you find yourself both a football and Hallmark movie fan. Read more about Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story on the Hallmark Channel's website.