Trey McBride’s rise from a small Colorado community to the NFL is a story built around much more than football. Behind the tight end’s success are his parents, Kate and Jen, who raised him alongside his siblings in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
The McBride family has always been a little different from the families around them, but inside their home, their life was simply normal. Kate and Jen focused on raising their children with love, discipline and plenty of encouragement. They also gave their kids room to develop their own interests, even when those interests turned into serious athletic careers.
Trey eventually became one of the most highly regarded tight ends in college football. His success at Colorado State included becoming the school’s first unanimous All-American and winning the Mackey Award, which is presented to the nation’s top collegiate tight end.
For Trey, however, some of the most meaningful moments in his football career have always involved his family.
Who Are Trey McBride’s Parents?
Trey McBride was raised by his two mothers, Kate and Jen. The couple began as friends before their relationship developed into a long-term partnership that has lasted for more than two decades.
Kate and Jen started building their family during the 1990s, at a time when same-sex couples faced considerably more social resistance than they do in many communities today.
Their family eventually grew to include five children: Bryce, Toby, Trey, Dylan and Taya.
Kate had originally dreamed of having eight children because eight was her favorite number. The couple did not quite reach that number, but their five children created a busy and energetic household.
For Trey and his siblings, Kate and Jen were simply their parents. The family later spoke openly about how they handled questions surrounding their family structure and biological donors.
The McBride Family Moved to Fort Morgan
Kate and Jen moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, in December 2003. At the time, they were entering a community where their family situation was not something everyone was accustomed to seeing.
There were concerns that the family could face hostility. Instead, over time, Kate and Jen became part of the community.
They volunteered, helped local causes and built relationships with their neighbors. Their involvement included charitable work connected with Meals on Wheels, which focuses on helping older adults with meals and reducing isolation.
The family gradually became accepted in Fort Morgan. What may have seemed unusual to some people when they first arrived eventually became just another family in the community.
Jen described Fort Morgan as a wonderful place to raise their children, while Kate felt that their family had also helped some people become more open-minded.
Kate and Jen Raised Five Children
The McBride household was rarely quiet.
With four sons and one daughter, Kate and Jen had plenty of energy to manage. Trey grew up with Bryce, Toby, Dylan and Taya, and the siblings were often involved in sports and outdoor activities.
Some of the childhood stories are almost funny in hindsight. The boys sometimes got into physical arguments, and the damage occasionally ended up on the walls.
One particularly memorable incident involved Dylan being thrown across the living room during an argument with his brother. The result was another mark on the drywall, something the family became used to over the years.
Rather than simply trying to stop their sons from being active, Kate and Jen looked for ways to channel that energy.
That led them toward wrestling.
Wrestling Helped the McBride Children
Kate and Jen initially put their sons into wrestling partly because they wanted them to use up some of their energy and sleep better at night.
They did not realize at first that the decision could have such a major effect on their children’s lives.
The McBride children became accomplished athletes, with several of them developing strong sporting careers.
Trey’s athletic ability was especially obvious as he grew older. His parents encouraged him to work hard, but they also emphasized that talent alone was not enough.
Kate has pushed back against the idea that her children succeeded simply because they were naturally gifted.
She has said that their accomplishments came from hours of practice, effort and commitment. Natural ability may have helped, but the children still had to put in the work.
Kate Has an Athletic Background
Sports were already familiar to Kate’s family, so it was not surprising that athletics became such a major part of the McBride household.
Kate and Jen also made decisions about their children’s biological donors, including choosing donors based partly on height. However, Kate has rejected the idea that they somehow designed their children to become athletes.
The children themselves have also generally viewed their upbringing in straightforward terms.
Their biological fathers were not a central part of their family lives. The siblings have spoken about being raised by Kate and Jen and not feeling a strong need to search for their biological fathers.
For Trey and his siblings, the people who raised them were their parents.
Trey McBride Grew Up Around Animals
The McBride home was not just filled with children. The family also kept a wide range of animals.
Their rural Colorado lifestyle included ducks, geese, horses, llamas, emus and even twin goats.
For Trey, that environment was simply his normal childhood.
Growing up around animals and in a rural community gave him a different experience from many young athletes. His family focused on doing things their own way and not worrying too much about what other people thought.
That attitude became something Trey carried with him as he grew older.
Trey Faced Questions About His Family
Growing up with two mothers sometimes meant Trey and his siblings faced uncomfortable comments from classmates, coaches and even adults.
The family did not pretend those situations did not happen. Instead, Kate and Jen talked with their children about the questions they might face.
They explained their family history honestly and made sure their children understood that there was nothing wrong with the way they were raised.
Trey has said that he sometimes had to defend his family when people made inappropriate comments. As he got older, however, he became less interested in responding to people who did not understand his upbringing.
His attitude was fairly simple. Kate and Jen were his parents, they loved him and his siblings, and that was what mattered.
Kate Was the One Who Shared Trey’s Mackey Award News
One of the most emotional moments in Trey McBride’s football career came when he won the Mackey Award.
Rather than learning about the honor from a coach or a sports official, Trey heard the news from his mother, Kate.
That made the achievement even more meaningful for him.
Winning the award confirmed what many football observers already knew. Trey had developed into one of the best tight ends in college football.
His final season at Colorado State was outstanding, and he became the school’s first unanimous All-American.
For Kate, seeing her son reach that level after years of hard work was clearly a proud moment.
Trey McBride’s Parents Supported His NFL Dream
Trey had talked about wanting to play in the NFL since he was young.
Like many parents, Kate and Jen could have treated the dream as a childhood fantasy. Instead, they supported him as he worked toward it.
His journey eventually took him from rural Colorado to Colorado State, where he established himself as an elite tight end and earned national recognition.
He later entered the NFL Draft and continued the family tradition of celebrating hard work and athletic achievement.
For Kate and Jen, the biggest reward was not simply seeing Trey become a professional football player. It was watching their son become the person they had encouraged him to be.
A Family Trey Is Proud Of
Trey McBride’s upbringing has attracted attention because of his parents and the uniqueness of his family story. But for Trey himself, there was never anything particularly strange about growing up with Kate and Jen.
He has repeatedly expressed gratitude for the way his parents raised him and his siblings.
Their rural Colorado home, their animals, their busy household and their approach to family life all helped shape him.
The story of Trey McBride’s parents is ultimately less about being different and more about creating a supportive home. Kate and Jen gave their children encouragement, boundaries and the confidence to pursue their goals.
That foundation followed Trey into football.
From wrestling mats and rural Colorado fields to Colorado State and the NFL, his journey has been closely connected to the family that supported him from the beginning.