As Taylor Swift continues to make headlines for her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, one of Kelce’s oldest and closest friends, Eric Jones, has shed light on Swift’s impact on their tight-knit group.
Speaking to Page Six, Jones shared his thoughts on welcoming the pop icon into their circle and how her presence has added a new dynamic without disrupting their longstanding friendship.
Swift, who has been seen supporting Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium for two home games this season, was notably absent during the Chiefs’ recent away games in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
Despite her absence, her involvement with Kelce and his friends has been a topic of public interest, given her global fame.
“I’m never going to downplay the hype or say the new attention isn’t the coolest stuff in the world,” Jones admitted during his interview. “But at the same time, all we got to do is be us. The only thing that’s changed is that there’s a camera in the suite now.”
Jones and Kelce’s friendship goes back to their childhood days in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where they played on the same hockey team as kindergarteners. Their bond has remained strong over the years, with Jones often joining Kelce in the Chiefs’ suite for home games. When not cheering on his best friend at Arrowhead, Jones runs his lifestyle and clothing brand, Homebred Legends, which he founded in 2017 as a tribute to his hometown and community.
The brand has gained notable visibility thanks to Kelce’s support. The NFL star has been seen wearing Homebred Legends gear on his New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, and even sported a trucker hat from the brand while arriving at the Chiefs’ home opener in September. “I wanted to do something that represented me, my friends, and my city of Cleveland Heights, Ohio,” Jones explained. “Travis and Jason Kelsey are great spokespeople for the city as well, so we just have a lot of pride in where we’re from.”
While Jones didn’t expect Swift to wear Homebred Legends gear like her boyfriend does, he had nothing but praise for the singer. Jones highlighted her individuality and her seamless integration into their friend group. “Taylor’s great. She’s her own woman, and if she wants to participate with us on theme nights, of course, we welcome it,” Jones said. “But at the end of the day, just having her there and her presence is awesome. She’s there to cheer on her boyfriend and hang out with us, and to be quite honest, that’s enough.”
Swift’s involvement with the group has been met with overwhelming positivity, with fans eager to see how her relationship with Kelce continues to evolve, both on and off the field. Despite the extra attention, Jones made it clear that the core of their group remains unchanged, even as Swift’s presence brings a new level of excitement to their gameday experience.
As the Chiefs continue their season, it remains to be seen whether Swift will return to the suite for future games, but for now, she has firmly established herself as part of Kelce’s support system—both on the sidelines and within his close circle of friends.