This is another big weekend for Nico Barber as the Kansas City Chiefs will take part in their seventh AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
Overland Park residents will gain bystander spots in all their action as members of the team's equipment staff under the leadership of longtime equipment director Allen Wright.
Barber is one of seven full-time employees in the Equipment Division, and will grow to 17 teams on Game Day.
Barber, 22, first landed in the equipment department during training camp, where he was a high school intern during his 2019 training camp. It was the summer before my fourth year at Bishop Miege High School in Roland Park.
“It was a lot of fun being in high school, and I didn't see anything except for the fun internships,” Barber said. “And then Allen (Wright) had some spots on the game day and was there any flexibility to do that? I might have to miss a few Saturdays to my (high school football) coach. He said, and as long as I continued, he said the top of things.”
When Barber graduated from high school in 2020, he had planned to attend Kansas University, where he collapsed, but KU announced that it would all go online due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Barber decided to go in a different direction.
Chiefs' facility staff is expanding to meet the needs brought about by the pandemic, with Barber earning an hourly employee job.
He is the son of former chief sprayer Shaun Barber.
The barber grew up around soccer.
His father is Shaun Barber, a former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker who played several seasons with his hometown team before retiring in 2007. As a child, Nico was ignited his love for football when his father played in the NFL.
Still, he said he never put any pressure on his parents to “come to a family business.”
“My mother (Nicole) and dad encouraged us to make our own path,” Barber said. “My dad let none of us play sports. Being an adult makes that difference now.”
How about working for the Kansas City Chiefs, the latest dynasty in the NFL? Have you won three Super Bowls with your team?
Barber said the week is longer during the season and the schedule is busy. Opening hours vary by day of the week as well as planned activities of players and coaches.
Players are usually off on Mondays, but equipment staff are usually doing laundry (around 40 large loads each week), equipment preparation and repairs, jerseys, soccer, and players need it I'm struggling to help things.
Then there is a day when Patrick Mahomes wanders into the equipment area to choose football on the game day. Ultimately, the game has a selection of 12 that fits in the specified bag.
What about the match day?
Preparation for game day begins on the weekend.
If it's a home game, Barber and his colleagues will deliver the equipment to the stadium locker room a week. On match day, Barber and the rest of the crew arrive about five hours before kickoff, finishing their laundry and heading to Arrowhead Stadium.
“We pack for players to make sure they have helmets, mouthpieces and everything they need,” he said. “We have an open door policy where players can request anything and we try to get it for them, including track pants, hoodies and more.”
As soon as the game began, it was time to clean up the locker room before heading out to the field. During the game, Barber goes on a side job.
“Our job is to get whatever they need and be ready,” he said. He also wants a quarterback towel.
“It's good to have them in your pocket,” he said.
Barber has also featured “new tasks” this season.
“I can lift my HR cards and tell them what crime is, so I can learn more about defense,” he said. “It's fun, and it keeps me engaged in the game.”
Barber also travels with his team for an away game. This increases the tasks to move more equipment and increases the number of longer days on the trip.
“On match days outside of town, players need to pack a red bag with cleats, helmets, jerseys, padded red bags, necessary braces and special socks that they like to wear “Packing it. It's in those bags on game days,” he said. “We load trucks, everything goes on the plane. We travel with all the equipment and we travel with our team.”
After the game, it's a cleanup time and the routine starts again.
Barber is still working on his university degree
In the end, Barber says he wants to be a coach.
“I'm trying to learn more about coaching, so I'll be staying and meeting some of my defense coaches. I'll learn more about the game,” Barber said. “I like being on the defense.”
Barber also takes online classes to complete his university degree from Park University.
Barber loves his job, especially his contacts with his frequent players.
“My favorite part for me is the interaction between players and the organization and how great people become. You always interact with them like a colleague,” he said. “I do some routes during practice, I stay on the defense and anyone who needs anything will get it for them.
“Coach (Andy) Reid has a big rule of treating everyone with respect,” added Barber. “When they (the players and coaches) treat us with respect for us, it's two-way… I enjoy learning every day.”
“It's all consistent” playoffs
Regarding the playoffs and another potential Super Bowl, Barber said changes to equipment staff have been kept to a minimum.
“We like to keep things the same, and consistency is everything here,” he said. “Everyone knows what to expect. 4-5 trunks filled with around 10 items taken by staff, including pants, belts, two undershirts, quarter zips, and light jackets. There are a lot of them.”
Wright is proud that Barber is part of his equipment staff.
“I've known Nico for the rest of his life. I've been close to his father and let me know that I'm interested in the training camp he works for,” Wright said. “I never thought about it again. It didn't take long for him to fit the staff, players, coaches. It was fun to see him grow up and come to himself in this environment. .”
Once the season is over, the equipment staff will unlock everything and spin to take a break. The staff then prepare for offseason training in the spring and return to work, and the schedule begins again.
During the season, Barber doesn't have much time outside of football.
He visits his girlfriend who lives in New York City and spends time with his family and does his homework, “And I love playing video games,” he said.
Dad Sean Barber is proud of his son's achievements for himself.
“I think it's a great story about a high school kid wanting to be around soccer. “A lot of people in the building have noticed that he's my son until three or four years. He showed that he could. It shows that he is proud of his work, and he gives him an easier path and allowance than being the son of a former player. I didn't want it to happen.
“He stands in his own merit.”