The NFL star’s circle of friends runs deep, with friendships dating back to childhood and working relationships formed before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The faces in Kelce’s circle have become increasingly familiar to the public throughout the 2023 football season as they’ve been consistently spotted cheering the 2x-Super Bowl champ on from the suite alongside his mom Donna Kelce and girlfriend Taylor Swift at games.
Aric Jones and Kumar Ferguson are among Kelce’s suite staples, who are his hometown friends. “I’ve known both of them since I was five, six years old,” Kelce told Vanity Fair of his longtime pals. “It’s really easy to be yourself when you’ve got the people you grew up with around all the time.”
WSL Magazine noted in its Kelce cover story that there are specific references that only those “who know Kelce” would understand. For example, only his core group knows exactly how he likes his French toast and which sport he didn’t play in high school (trick question, “he played every sport”).
Suite aside, Kelce’s core group is often seen with the tight end on many occasions ranging from sports-related events to other high-profile appearances away from the gridiron — like when he hosted Saturday Night Live and appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, to name a few.
Read on to get to know Travis Kelce’s inner circle, from his hometown friend-turned-personal chef to his famed sought-after barber.
Aric Jones is Kelce’s longtime friend, dating back to childhood. The Chiefs tight end told Vanity Fair that he’s known him since “[he] was five, six years old.”
The two attended high school together at Heights High in Cincinnati, though Jones graduated one year after Kelce. He went on to study at Tennessee State University.
As Jones was wrapping up school in 2014, Kelce invited him to move in with him in Kansas City. At first, Jones told the outlet that he was apprehensive that he’d be “a burden” on Kelce — but the NFL player seemingly disregarded his concern.
“I was just like, ‘Are you sure this is cool? I don’t want to be a burden on you,’” Jones told the outlet when recalling his initial conversation with Kelce. “He just sent me a picture of a bedroom and said, ‘Here’s your room. It’s waiting for you.’”
The duo lived together for two years in their early 20s before Jones relocated to Washington D.C. The distance, however, hasn’t stopped him from rolling alongside his old pal — frequently supporting him at NFL games to hanging at events like Coachella.
Jones is active on social media, often posting Chiefs-related content and promoting the streetwear clothing brand Homebred Legends on Instagram.
Patrick Regan is Kelce’s barber, who’s risen to prominence due to his stacked roster of clients that include some of the biggest names in professional sports. He’s famously known as “Patty Cuts,” the title that doubles as his nickname and brand.
While he’s now a respected and sought-after barber who often travels for the job, Regan grew up on the Northeast Philadelphia line in Rockledge, Montgomery County. He is a 2006 graduate of La Salle College High School.
Regan has created a recognizable brand for himself, notable for his personalized hair-fading services that can cost anywhere between several hundred dollars to more than $1,000 depending on travel.
The Philly native is now based in Florida but has reportedly flown out for a few games. In addition to the Chiefs tight end aside, he’s worked with Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and Grammy-winner Diddy.
