A tailgate love story: local couple meets through Chiefs passion
St. Joseph residents love the Kansas City Chiefs, and 20 years ago, that love connected two strangers and made a family.
Back in 2003, Jen and Jay Martin first met through a mutual friend while attending a Chiefs Tailgate at Arrowhead Stadium, though there is some debate over how the romance started.
“I knew he was into me," Jen Martin said. "Like, I was positive and I was waiting for him to ask me out and I waited the entire season and the last game of the season came and went, and I was like, 'I'm not going to see this guy until next season again.' But then the next day I got a phone call.”
“We had a conversion van with a camping toilet," Jay Martin said. "So when you're early in the morning and cold and barbecue and beer, all the ladies really appreciated having a nice toilet nearby...So our little van with the toilet was my wingman.”
Years later, their romance and love for the Chiefs blossomed. The two got married, had a son and will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.
The couple was even lucky enough to attend Super Bowl LVIII and witness the nail-biting overtime win in person.
“The whole place was electric and full of energy," Jay said. "Patrick Mahomes was making that drive down and we kind of like, in our gut, knew like he's going to do it but you don't want to say it out loud and jinx it."
Today, Jay works at Specialty Industries and employs around 100 special needs adults. Those employees share Jay and Jen’s love for the KC Chiefs and flaunt it every chance they get.
“My whole family is a Kansas City Chiefs fan," Specialty Industries employee Laura Oliver said. "I hope they win this."
“One time me and my brother went to a divisional playoff game," Daniel Pyles with Specialty Industries said. "And that was when they won 13 seconds in overtime against the Buffalo Bills. That was an exciting time in my life.”
This Valentine's Day, Jen and Jay, Laura and Daniel and every other Chiefs fan won’t need chocolates or roses. All they’ll need is that Super Bowl championship for the third year in a row.
