8 Surprising Things NFL Stylist Tom Marchitelli Learned from Dressing Travis Kelce, Gronk and More (Exclusive)

Tom Marchitelli has a few fashion-forward tricks up his stylish sleeve.

The designer behind the seams of the suits worn by some of the biggest names in professional sports is New Jersey-based due to his jam-packed schedule — one that takes him around the country to style and fit his stacked roster of clients across the NFL, MLB, NBA and beyond.

Additionally, the custom suit designer — whose creations have been worn by the likes of Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow and three-time Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce — is self-taught, having worked at a hedge fund for eight years with a background in finance.

But with "an eye on fashion" and a personal dissatisfaction with store-bought suits due to their often improper fit on his own athletic build, Marchitelli took matters into his own hands and began tailoring custom-made suits for himself. Soon, other people in his circle took notice and a side hustle began.

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Thanks to his devotion to design and his wife's savvy idea to share his creations on Instagram, Marchitelli's custom suit business — now known as Gentsplaybook — was born, ultimately causing him to pivot career paths in 2014 and pursue his new style-driven endeavor full time.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Marchitelli reflects on the "fascinating," fashion-forward trajectory his life has taken over the past decade as one of the most sought-after custom suit stylists in professional sports with a roster spanning 500 athlete clients (and counting).

"I just went all in, took a huge risk, bet on myself with the backing of my wife and my family... The best decision I ever could have made to say the very least," Marchitelli tells PEOPLE exclusively of leaving his finance job behind.

Since then the energetic designer has attracted an extensive roster of clients through both Instagram and in-person interactions alike.

"So I put the pictures on Instagram. I started getting DMs from players. And they say, 'Hey, can you make me look like the guy in the pictures?' " he recalls of the early conversations. "And I said, 'I'm so glad you used those words. I'm the guy in the pictures. Let's go!' "

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Today, Marchitelli's portfolio is stacked with elite athletes. Burrow's silver-striped suit topped headlines at the 2022 Super Bowl, Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen turned heads at the Kentucky Derby and Dak Prescott has worn 150-plus suits from Marchitelli (and hasn't repeated any for the past eight straight seasons).

Next, Marchitelli's teaming up with Bounty Wingman to create custom bomber jackets for the players in the "Wingman Suite" on Radio Row at Super Bowl 2025.

"We took the style up a level this year," he says of their continued partnership. "The guys are going to go crazy for it."

Although his full client roster for the Super Bowl is pending as the remaining NFL teams go head-to-head in the playoffs with the hopes of clinching the final two spots in the big game, Marchitelli is confident he'll be busy regardless. "I'm a hustler. I'm grinding every day," he adds.

Read on for what the NFL suit designer and stylist has learned from dressing some of the biggest football players in the game!

NFL Clients' Schedules Require Organization

With a roster of 500-plus clients across the NFL, MLB and NBA, organization is the key to keeping track of orders. According to Marchitelli — who says he's "a one-man gang — a well-established system is in place.

"I can manage this large book of clients because guys need me at different times," he tells PEOPLE, pointing out the different seasons of each professional sport.

"When OTAs (organized team activities) start for football around June, and then training camp in July, I'm almost exclusively football," he explains.

"I have over a hundred baseball clients, too, but they don't need me at that time," he continues, noting that MLB orders will start around the time the Super Bowl ends in early February. "Baseball players literally report to spring training the next week, so there's my transition."

He's notes that he's "dedicated to my baseball clients for one to two months," until hockey season starts. "I have 80 or 90 NHL players because they wear a suit 82 games a year. Their season starts in October."

Fortunately for Marchitelli, "the majority" of his clients are returning players, so he has their measurements on file, which allows for remote orders that save him time. "I can only be in so many cities in one day," he jokes. "I don't like to be stagnant at all."

NFL Client Fittings Range from 30 Minutes to 3 Hours

When Marchitelli does have to fit an athlete in person, he makes a point to go to them.

"I personally fly on my own dime to every single client's house or team facility," he reveals. "Typically, they like the personal one-on-one that I give them... so I fly to their homes."

Famously known for his intricate tailoring and attention to detail, Marchitelli's fitting sessions can range between 30 minutes to three hours "depending on how many fabrics the guys want to go through" and the amount of suits they want to order "for specific events" throughout the season.

"Then I measure them up ... I'm taking 30 measurements," he says. "Usually halfway through the measurements the guys will say, 'Are you done yet?' " he jokes. "And I said, 'No! You think this perfect fit happens with the snap of my fingers? It's a process.' "

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A Request from Travis Kelce Put Marchitelli on a New Path

Marchitelli proudly credits many of his clients for having a fashion-focused eye, which makes the styling and dressing process collaborative.

"They know how to dress... and also, they know what colors look good on them," he says. "I have some creative guys, stylish guys."

Marchitelli uses Kelce, 35, as an example of someone who had an outfit idea in mind that pushed the suit stylist out of his comfort zone. The duo teamed up for the first time throughout the 2016 season, but the year that followed involved a request he'll never forget.

"'Can you make me a bomber jacket?' " he recalls Kelce asking him. "That question literally changed my business."

Fast-forward eight years, and Marchitelli reveals he's almost making "more bomber jackets than I do suits" because of the star tight end's idea. While they designed it together, he reveals "learning" from the athlete throughout the creation process. "Now, I'm making bombers."

Sometimes Clients Require Specific Measurements

If there's one thing Marchitelli has learned as someone with an athletic build himself, it's that no two athletes are built the same.

"They really love how attentive I am to them and to the detail of the suit," he recognizes, noting that his tailoring is so precise that the sleeve cuffs and ankle hems fit to a tee. "I always make one [suit] first and I bring it back to them in person and try it on to make sure if there are any imperfections."

He explains, "I want to fix that so going forward the fit is perfect."

Marchitelli credits his measurement skills to his background in finance and accounting. "I'm a numbers guy. I just know how to apply it on a different scale," he says of tailoring his wide array of clients with different heights and weights.

During the interview, Marchitelli recalled a unique interaction with 6 feet 6 inches tall NFL star Rob Gronkowski after they coincidently met at the same Super Bowl party on year.

"I fitted him on the spot, and dressed him for the Super Bowl three days later," he remembers. "I made the suit for him!"

NFL Clients Want Original Looks and They Don't Like to Rewear

"The thing that differentiates me from the other clothiers... the exclusivity," he makes clear, noting it's what "appeals" to so many of the athletes. "I put so many of my guys in one-of-ones."

Marchitelli uses Prescott, 31, as an example, revealing that the Dallas Cowboys quarterback has not worn the same suit for eight straight seasons. "I've put him in a different one since the day I met him, and I haven't shown those suits to anyone else. He gets that exclusivity," he says.

"Shannon Sharpe would body slam me if I put anyone else in any of the suits I've made him," he jokes of the former NFL tight end who primarily played for the Denver Broncos. "He probably has 25 or 30 of mine in his closet."

He proudly states, "One and done is part of the Gent's business model."

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Marchitelli Helps Players Match Sneakers to Their Suits

The sneaker game plays a big part in looks styled by Marchitelli, who reveals he's "a huge shoe guy" himself. "I believe style starts from the ground up," he says.

However, Marchitelli says that 80% of the outfits he's styled have started with the suit before adding a shoe. He jokingly recalls that he'll get a text from his clients the morning of their event with five shoes in the message, asking which one to wear with the suit.

"These guys have huge shoe collections, for the most part," he shares. "Many of them have rooms. I mean, [Travis] Kelce has a bedroom filled with shoes ... I've never seen anything like it!"

Clients Are Down to Take Fashion-Forward Risks

Similar to Kelce's bomber jacket vision, Marchitelli says many of his NFL clients want to make bold statements. Pre-game tunnel walks are near comparable to fashion week runways these days and players are competitive over their " 'fit game" (example: DK Metcalf's stuffed-animal pants).

"I like to push the envelope," he says, immediately using his fabric choices as reference. "I think if it's tailored properly, you can get away with any color, any pattern. And as long as the guy has the confidence to match that, then I think it works."

Marchitelli used a look he designed for Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons, as an example, matching a bold-patterned peacoat to pants in the same fabric and wearing it as an eye-catching set. "He wore an oversized houndstooth check... so you see the matching print top to bottom," herecalls.

"That's one of my favorite designs," he adds. "I have not seen anyone else do it. I'm sure I'll see some copycats next season, which is flattering."

Players Influence Players

If there's one thing Marchitelli has learned over the past decade as he has expanded his impressive client roster, it's that players influence players. "I know that he's wearing that suit into a locker room filled with potential new clients," he says of his clients.

"I know that I'm being represented everywhere my clothing and my clients go," Marchitelli continues, which is why he gives 100% to every client and their custom designs. "It's the service... and I've done this from day one."

Read the original article on People