Jacob Bartlett’s Family: Girlfriend, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by Mike

Jacob Bartlett is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer. Born on October 7, 2005, in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, Bartlett grew up supporting Sporting KC before eventually progressing through the club’s academy and signing a Homegrown contract with his hometown team.

Soccer and athletics run throughout the Bartlett family. Jacob is the son of Richard and Dena Bartlett, who were both college athletes, and he has three older siblings: brothers Alec and Lucas and sister Grace. All three played soccer at the collegiate level, while Alec and Lucas also reached the professional game. Jacob has repeatedly credited his parents and siblings with helping him develop the competitive mentality that eventually took him to Major League Soccer.

Who Is Jacob Bartlett’s Girlfriend?

As of now, Jacob Bartlett has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend, fiancée or wife through a reliable source.

Most interviews with Bartlett concentrate on his professional career, his family, his faith and his journey through the Sporting Kansas City Academy. Established coverage of the midfielder does not identify a romantic partner.

Because Bartlett appears to keep this part of his personal life private, a person should not be identified as his girlfriend solely on the basis of social-media posts, photographs or interactions without reliable confirmation.

Does Jacob Bartlett Have Children?

There are no publicly confirmed reports that Jacob Bartlett has children.

Neither Sporting Kansas City nor his former college program at the University of Notre Dame identifies Bartlett as a father. As of now, no son or daughter has been publicly documented.

Who Are Jacob Bartlett’s Parents?

Jacob Bartlett’s parents are Richard “Rich” Bartlett and Dena Bartlett. Both were accomplished college athletes at Doane University before raising a family in the Kansas City area.

Notre Dame’s official biography of Jacob states that Dena competed in basketball and softball during college, while Richard played football and participated in track and field. Their athletic backgrounds were reflected in a household where sports and competition became an everyday part of family life.

Jacob has credited both parents with supporting his decision to pursue professional soccer. His father also played an important role in getting him started on the pathway that eventually led to the Sporting KC Academy.

Jacob Bartlett’s Father: Richard Bartlett

Jacob Bartlett’s father is Richard Bartlett, commonly referred to as Rich. During his college years at Doane University, Richard competed in football and track and field.

Richard was influential at an important early stage of Jacob’s soccer development. According to an interview with KC Soccer Journal, it was his father who encouraged him to try out for Sporting Kansas City’s Center of Excellence. That opportunity eventually helped Jacob enter the Sporting KC development system.

The family had already been longtime Sporting Kansas City supporters. Jacob recalled attending matches with his parents as a child, watching major games and cup runs from the stands at Children’s Mercy Park. Former Sporting KC and United States defender Matt Besler became an especially important sporting example for the Bartlett children.

Years later, Richard was able to watch his youngest son play professionally in the same stadium. In a 2026 family feature, Richard and Dena described regularly coordinating their travel so that they could support both Jacob and his older brother Lucas, who also plays in MLS.

Jacob Bartlett’s Mother: Dena Bartlett

Jacob Bartlett’s mother is Dena Bartlett. She was also a multi-sport college athlete, playing basketball and softball at Doane University.

Dena has remained closely involved in her children’s sporting lives. When Jacob was young, she helped nurture his enthusiasm for soccer. He has recalled being fascinated by Lionel Messi as a child, and his mother once bought him a Messi jersey after watching him play. Years later, Jacob remarkably made his professional debut in a match against Messi and Inter Miami.

Dena was also present for one of the biggest moments in Jacob’s career: the meeting in which Sporting Kansas City offered him a professional Homegrown contract. Jacob later recalled that his mother became emotional when the opportunity was presented.

Family traditions remain important to him as well. Sporting Kansas City revealed that one of Jacob’s favorite meals is his mother’s homemade goulash, based on a recipe passed down through the family from his grandfather.

In 2026, Dena continued regularly attending Jacob’s matches and traveling to watch Lucas play for D.C. United, demonstrating the family’s continued involvement in both brothers’ professional careers.

Who Are Jacob Bartlett’s Siblings?

Jacob Bartlett has three older siblings: two brothers, Alec and Lucas Bartlett, and a sister, Grace Bartlett. All four Bartlett children have played competitive soccer, making theirs an unusually accomplished sporting family.

Jacob has described growing up in an extremely competitive household. Soccer, basketball and even board games could become serious family competitions. He credits those experiences, particularly competing against his older brothers, with strengthening his drive and preparing him for professional sport.

Alec Bartlett

Alec Bartlett is Jacob’s oldest brother. He played college soccer for Drake University after beginning his college career at Creighton.

Alec developed into a highly regarded defender at Drake, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference recognition during his collegiate career. After college, he played professionally in the United Soccer League, including a spell with Charlotte Independence in 2016.

Having an older brother who had already completed the transition from college soccer into the professional game gave Jacob someone within his own family whose experience he could use for advice.

Alec has remained part of the close Bartlett family even after his playing career. When Jacob and Lucas faced one another professionally, family members including Alec traveled to support the brothers.

Lucas Bartlett

Lucas Bartlett is Jacob’s other older brother and the sibling with whom he shares the strongest current professional soccer connection.

Born on July 26, 1997, Lucas played college soccer for Loyola Chicago, Drake and St. John’s before FC Dallas selected him sixth overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

Lucas later joined St. Louis City SC before moving to D.C. United, where he established himself as an MLS centre-back. D.C. United signed him to a contract extension through 2027, with an option for 2028.

Jacob has described Lucas as one of his best friends as well as an important mentor. Because Lucas entered MLS several years before him, Jacob has been able to ask his brother about the challenges of professional soccer, preparing for matches and managing difficult periods during a season.

The two brothers finally had the opportunity to compete against one another in MLS after Jacob joined Sporting Kansas City. Their parents have described having to “divide and conquer” on some weekends because both sons may be playing in different cities.

Despite their close relationship, the competitive side of the family remains strong. Jacob has joked about looking forward to playing against Lucas and getting the opportunity to challenge his older brother on the field.

Grace Bartlett

Grace Bartlett is Jacob’s older sister and also an accomplished soccer player.

Grace attended Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, where she competed in soccer, volleyball and track. She became a United Soccer Coaches High School All-American and helped her school win state championships in both soccer and volleyball.

She subsequently joined the women’s soccer program at Grand Canyon University. Grace played as a midfielder and defender for the Lopes and was named a team captain during her senior season in 2025.

Her Grand Canyon biography independently confirms the same Bartlett family relationships, identifying Richard and Dena as her parents and Alec and Lucas as her brothers.

Jacob has said that he trains with his siblings when opportunities arise. Having older brothers and a sister who all understood competitive soccer provided him with a built-in support network throughout his development.

A Family of College Athletes

The Bartlett family’s athletic history extends beyond Jacob and his siblings. Both of his parents competed in multiple sports at Doane University, and all four Bartlett children pursued soccer at a high level.

Richard played football and competed in track and field, while Dena played basketball and softball. Their children then largely gravitated toward soccer: Alec played collegiately and professionally, Lucas reached Major League Soccer, Grace completed a collegiate soccer career at Grand Canyon, and Jacob became a Homegrown player for Sporting Kansas City.

Sporting KC has described Jacob as the third sibling in his family to reach the professional soccer ranks, following Alec and Lucas.

Jacob has said the sporting environment created constant competition within the household. Rather than viewing that as a negative, he credits his older siblings with pushing him to become more determined and resilient.

How Jacob Bartlett’s Family Helped His Career

Jacob’s route to professional soccer started close to home. After playing with Sporting Blue Valley and participating in Sporting Kansas City’s Center of Excellence, he entered the Sporting KC Academy in 2017.

His father had encouraged him to pursue the opportunity, while his parents provided the transportation, time and support required for years of academy soccer.

His older siblings also became valuable mentors. Alec and Lucas had already experienced college and professional soccer, while Grace understood the demands of competing at a high level. Jacob has explained that he could turn to them when experiencing difficult periods because they understood many of the same challenges.

After progressing through Sporting KC’s academy, Jacob spent the 2024 college season at Notre Dame. He appeared in 16 matches and scored his first collegiate goal against Louisville.

Sporting Kansas City then offered him the opportunity to return home and become a professional. During finals week at Notre Dame, Jacob spoke with his parents about the offer. They supported whichever decision he wanted to make but also emphasized that he would continue his education.

For Jacob, signing with the club he had supported since childhood was an opportunity he could not turn down. Sporting KC officially announced his Homegrown signing in January 2025.

Jacob Bartlett and His Brother Lucas in MLS

The professional careers of Jacob and Lucas have created one of the most notable parts of the Bartlett family story.

Lucas had already established himself in MLS by the time Jacob signed his Sporting Kansas City contract. Instead of entering the league without a familiar reference point, Jacob had an older brother who understood the travel, training demands and pressure associated with professional soccer.

Jacob has said Lucas is someone he can discuss virtually anything with and credits him with providing valuable advice throughout his early MLS career.

Their parents continue to follow both careers closely. In May 2026, KCTV reported that Richard and Dena frequently traveled between matches to watch their sons. The family also kept the ball from Jacob’s first professional goal at their Overland Park home.

Jacob Bartlett’s Family Traditions and Home Life

Despite the family’s sporting success, Jacob’s comments about home life suggest that ordinary family traditions remain important to him.

Sporting Kansas City has revealed that the Bartlett household includes four dogs named Nelly, Remi, Colt and Maddie. Jacob also identified his mother’s homemade goulash as a meal that reminds him of home.

The recipe came from his grandfather, making it another connection between generations of the Bartlett family.

Competition remains another family tradition. Jacob has described games and sporting activities between the siblings as highly competitive, saying that nobody in the family particularly enjoys losing.

Jacob Bartlett’s Family Life Today

As of now, Jacob Bartlett’s publicly documented immediate family consists of his parents, Richard and Dena Bartlett, and his three older siblings, Alec, Lucas and Grace.

His parents were college athletes themselves and have supported all four children through their sporting careers. Alec previously played professional soccer, Lucas currently competes in Major League Soccer with D.C. United, and Grace completed her college soccer career at Grand Canyon University.

No girlfriend, wife or children have been publicly confirmed for Jacob through reliable sources. For now, most of what Bartlett has chosen to share about his personal life centers on the remarkably athletic family that helped him achieve his childhood ambition of representing Sporting Kansas City.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jacob Bartlett’s Family

Who are Jacob Bartlett’s parents?

Jacob Bartlett’s parents are Richard “Rich” Bartlett and Dena Bartlett. Both were multi-sport athletes at Doane University.

Who is Jacob Bartlett’s father?

His father is Richard Bartlett. Richard played college football and participated in track and field at Doane University and later encouraged Jacob to try out for Sporting Kansas City’s Center of Excellence.

Who is Jacob Bartlett’s mother?

His mother is Dena Bartlett. She competed in basketball and softball at Doane University and has remained closely involved in supporting Jacob and his siblings throughout their athletic careers.

How many siblings does Jacob Bartlett have?

Jacob Bartlett has three older siblings: brothers Alec and Lucas and sister Grace.

Is Lucas Bartlett related to Jacob Bartlett?

Yes. Lucas Bartlett is Jacob’s older brother. Both are professional MLS players, with Jacob representing Sporting Kansas City and Lucas playing as a defender for D.C. United.

Who is Alec Bartlett?

Alec Bartlett is Jacob’s oldest brother. He played college soccer at Drake University and later played professionally, including with Charlotte Independence in the USL.

Who is Grace Bartlett?

Grace Bartlett is Jacob’s older sister. She played collegiate soccer at Grand Canyon University and served as a team captain during her senior season in 2025.

Does Jacob Bartlett have a girlfriend?

As of now, Jacob Bartlett has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend, fiancée or wife through a reliable source.

Does Jacob Bartlett have children?

There are no publicly confirmed reports that Jacob Bartlett has children.

Where does Jacob Bartlett’s family live?

The Bartlett family has longstanding ties to Overland Park, Kansas. Richard and Dena have continued living in the Kansas City area while following the professional careers of Jacob and Lucas.

Were Jacob Bartlett’s parents athletes?

Yes. Both competed in college sports at Doane University. Dena played basketball and softball, while Richard played football and competed in track and field.