Heidi Gardner Calls Donna Kelce Her 'Bonus Mom' as She Reveals Her First Date Was at a Chiefs Game (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Heidi Gardner and Donna Kelce.Photo:Denise Truscello/Getty; JC Olivera/Getty

Denise Truscello/Getty; JC Olivera/Getty

Heidi Gardneris a lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fan.

Gardner, 41, is a native of the Missouri city that’s dominated the NFL in recent years behind the success ofPatrick Mahomes,Travis KelceandAndy Reid, and she tells PEOPLE that bonding with Kelce, 34, and his family has been a full circle moment for her.

“I spend my summers in Kansas City. All of my friends and my family are still here,” says Gardner at the Chiefs' World’s Largest Tailgate at Arrowhead Stadium — the same location where theSaturday Night Livestar went on her very first date in middle school.

“My mom had gotten tickets through a client of hers,” the comedian, who hosted NBC’s Transcontinental Tailgate, explains, adding parents have been “big time” Chiefs fans for her entire life.

“I brought my seventh grade boyfriend…my first date was at Arrowhead,” says Gardner — wearing a beaded friendship bracelet that spells out “SNL” and “Sunday Night Football.”

Gardner first got to know Kelce when the Chiefs tight end hostedSNLin February 2023. “My brothers actually came out for the show and we tailgated in my dressing room before, and Travis and Jason Kelce came and ate barbecue too,” says Gardner, calling the experience “really cool.”

Travis Kelce and Heidi Gardner.Rosalind OConnor/NBC via Getty

Rosalind OConnor/NBC via Getty

“Today, I claimed her as my bonus mom,” Gardner jokes just after filming a segment for the event’s livestream where she andDonna made friendship bracelets together— a nod to Travis' girlfriendTaylor Swift.

Donna Kelce and Heidi Gardner at Chiefs Tailgate.Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs

Gardner is a fan of Kelce and Swift, 34, together, and she thinks it’s good for the Chiefs and great for football that the team’s fanbase has welcomed the newfound attention since the singer began attending games.

“As a selfish Chiefs fan, I think just the more support and positive energy we can put around the team and lift them up, it can only do good things,” she says of the fanfare around the team amid Swift’s presence at games. “I think it’s really cool.”

Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs' tight end #87 Travis Kelce.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

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“And I said, ‘I will give you lessons.’ Men, women, anyone, I’ll give you football lessons — watching football lessons, not playing,” she adds with a laugh.

Unlike many football fans, however, Gardner isn’t a fan of trash talking on behalf of her Chiefs.

“I don’t want to jinx anything, so I never get cocky,” says Gardner. “So every time someone’s like, ‘Are you going to rip this team apart?’ I’m like, ‘I’m only sending love to my team and hoping for the best.’ "

source: people.com