Does it help an NFL player to be romantically involved with a movie or music superstar? Since a little over a year ago, when the relationship between Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce and pop star Taylor Swift (who is also perhaps the best known star on the planet today) came to light, there have been comments in various places about whether she has been positive or negative for him.

One of the most famous cases of a relationship between an NFL star and a singer was when Tony Romo, then quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, was partnered with Jessica Simpson. In 2007, when the Cowboys finished 13-3, they were defeated in the Divisional game by the New York Giants. And fans placed much of the blame on Simpson, as the week before she and Romo went on vacation to Los Cabos, distracting him from the important game at hand.

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Now, fans have had mixed reactions to the relationship between Travis and Taylor. While many – especially Swift’s devoted fanbase, the “Swifties” – have shown overwhelming support for the couple, some people believe Swift’s presence may be distracting Kelce and even negatively impacting his career.

Is Taylor good or bad for Travis?

But Kelce’s best friend, Aric Jones, is quick to shut down those claims. Jones, who has known Kelce since kindergarten in Cleveland Heights, insists Swift has been nothing but a positive influence on his lifelong friend. “Taylor’s great. Taylor’s her own woman,” Jones shared, adding that Swift is always welcome to join them for fun activities, like themed nights. “At the end of the day, just having her there and having her presence there is awesome. She’s there to cheer on her boyfriend and hang out with us and, to be quite honest, that’s enough.”

Jones’ friendship with Kelce is one of deep history and loyalty. They’ve been through it all together, and if there’s anyone who knows Kelce best, it’s Jones. His insight into the couple’s relationship paints a different picture from the one the critics are pushing. In Jones’ eyes, Swift is far from a distraction – she’s a supportive partner, and her presence both in Kelce’s life and in their friend group has been nothing but a positive experience.

Over the year-plus that Kelce and Swift have been dating, Jones has gotten to know the “Karma” singer well. He’s seen the effect she’s had on Kelce, both in his personal life and on his career. And despite the naysayers, Jones stands firm in his belief that Swift has been a great addition to Kelce’s life. “She’s there for him, and that’s what matters,” he said.

Considering Jones’ close bond with Kelce, his glowing remarks about Swift carry significant weight. It’s clear that for those closest to Kelce, Swift is far from a distraction – she’s part of the team.