Most NFL players occasionally land in the national spotlight for their performances on the field. But off the field, they’re often not the only one in their relationship making headlines — their spouses or significant others are also garnering attention for their own hugely successful careers.
From Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen to Russell Wilson and Ciara, here are some of the most powerful celebrity couples in the NFL.
Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen
Brady and Bündchen are no longer together, but they certainly used to be one of the biggest “it” couples in the NFL. The ultra-successful duo reportedly had a combined net worth of $540 million. The pair had constantly showed their unwavering devotion to each other, whether on Instagram or (in Bündchen’s case) cheering on the sidelines. They share two kids, and Bündchen is also stepmom to Brady’s son from a previous relationship.
Russell Wilson and Ciara
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback and the singer got married at a castle in 2016, following about a year of dating. The couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Sienna Princess Wilson, in 2017. When they’re not busy juggling their booming careers, the two also make time to support great causes, paying frequent visits to the Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Zach and Julie Ertz
Talk about an athletic power couple. The tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles and professional soccer player met at a college baseball game and swapped congratulatory texts after they each nabbed big wins on the field. What started out as friendly sportsmanship soon tuned into romance, and the two got married in 2017. Aside from their shared passion for sports, they also have philanthropic interests. In 2018, they launched the Ertz Family Foundation, which aims to help build more supportive communities by advancing education and providing sports opportunities for youth.
Eric and Jessie James Decker
You know this duo from their E! reality show, “Eric and Jessie: Game On,” which began airing shortly after they tied the knot in 2013. The series chronicled their early years of marriage and Jessie James Decker’s pregnancy with her first child. Since then, the couple has welcomed two more children. The NFL wide receiver announced his retirement in August 2018, following stints with the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans. James Decker, a country singer, continues to release music and has a flourishing clothing line, Kittenish.
Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari
Jay Cutler and the former “Laguna Beach” star began dating in 2010 while he was playing for the Chicago Bears. After a brief breakup, they reconciled in 2011 and tied the knot in 2013. The pair has since welcomed two sons and a daughter and have relocated to Nashville. Their life in Music City is currently chronicled on E!’s “Very Cavallari,” which focuses on Cavallari’s growing jewelry and home line, Uncommon James. Cutler retired from football after playing a final season with the Miami Dolphins in 2017.
AJ McCarron and Katherine Webb
The Houston Texans quarterback married model and longtime girlfriend Katherine Webb in 2014. Since tying the knot, the couple has welcomed two kids, son Tripp in 2016 and Cash in late 2018. Following the birth of her second child, Webb shared sweet family videos of McCarron and her then-newborn baby on Instagram.
Christian and Samantha Ponder
These two have an ongoing shared interest in football. While Christian Ponder is a former quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, his wife, Samantha, continues to be immersed in the sport today. She currently serves as the host for ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.” Since marrying in 2012, the couple has welcomed two kids together, a daughter in 2014 and a son in 2017.
Tony Romo and Candice Crawford
Tony Romo began dating former TV journalist Candice Crawford in 2009, and the pair married in 2011. The ex-NFL star, who played with the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons, officially retired in 2016. He now serves as a commentator for CBS Sports. Meanwhile, Crawford is a co-founder of a fragrance company, Hawk + Sloane. The two remain busy at home as well, with their three sons, Hawk, Rivers and Jones.
Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
Tim Tebow and former Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters had a bit of a whirlwind romance. After meeting in April 2018, the pair began officially dating that summer and were engaged by January 2019. Then again, the former NFL quarterback is well-known for following his passions. The athlete famously switched from football to baseball in 2017 and will play this season for the Syracuse Mets, a triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets.
Nnamdi Asomugha and Kerry Washington
This couple may be famous, but they sure do know how to keep a secret. The former San Francisco 49er and the actress kept their relationship under wraps until after marrying in 2013. The pair has since welcomed two kids, a daughter in 2014 and son in 2016. And though they like to keep their family out of the public eye, it seems they don’t mind working together. Asomugha served as a co-producer on his wife’s recent Broadway play, “American Son.”
Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek
The three-time Super Bowl champion has been in a relationship with entertainment reporter and model Camille Kostek since 2015. The pair has experienced some pretty significant career milestones together, including several major moments this year alone. Just weeks after helping the Patriots win the Super Bowl LIII in February, Gronkowski announces his retirement. Kostek also started the year off a bang, getting named the first rookie of 2019’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab
Radio personality and host of MTV’s “Girl Code,” Nessa Diab, has continued to voice support for longtime boyfriend, Colin Kaepernick, both in his professional football career and in his controversial movement to protest racial injustice. The couple didn’t confirm their relationship until 2016, but reportedly started dating the year before. Kaepernick, who last played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, filed a grievance against the NFL in 2017, accusing them of colluding to keep him out of the league. The grievance was withdrawn after both parties reached a confidential settlement in early 2019.
Eric Johnson and Jessica Simpson
The former NFL tight end began dating Jessica Simpson in 2010. The two announced their engagement that November but didn’t formally tie the knot until years later, in 2014. The couple now has three children, having welcomed their youngest daughter, Birdie, in March.
Antonio and Sasha Gates
The NFL tight end, who most recently played with the San Diego Chargers, has been married to model Sasha Dinadayal since 2011. The couple has two kids together, and Antonio Gates also has a child from a previous relationship. Sasha Gates later went on to appear on the E! reality TV series “WAGS.”
Sterling Shepard and Chanel Iman
Brady and Bundchen aren’t the only successful footballer-supermodel pairing around. New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard and Victoria’s Secret angel Chanel Iman first hit it off at a birthday party for former NFL player, Victor Cruz. The couple announced their engagement in December 2017 and tied the knot just four months later. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, in August 2018.
Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his girlfriend, retired race car driver Danica Patrick, are still going strong. The couple has been dating since 2017, and they regularly showcase their relationship on social media. Most recently, Patrick shared a picture of her and her NFL beau in front of the Eiffel Tower, apparently taken during a surprise trip to Paris that Rodgers planned for her birthday.
Danny Amendola and Olivia Culpo
Though they have a very on-again, off-again relationship, there’s no denying that Olivia Culpo and Danny Amendola do make quite the power couple when they’re together. The Detroit Lions player, who previously played for the New England Patriots, began dating the former Miss Universe in 2016. The two reportedly broke up sometime in fall 2018 only to seemingly reconcile in early 2019, having been spotted on vacation together over President’s Day weekend.
Osi Umenyiora and Leila Lopes
Former NFL defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who played for the New York Giants, married Lisa Lopes, a former Miss Universe, in 2015. The two tied the knot in the bride’s home country of Luanda, Angola. The couple welcomed their first child in the summer of 2018.
A.J. Feeley and Heather Mitts
A.J. Feeley, a former NFL quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, and former professional soccer player Heather Mills have been married since 2010. The two tied the knot in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and Feeley retired from the league later that same year. Mills went on to play in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup before retiring from soccer in 2013. The two have since welcomed two children, a son in 2014 and a daughter in 2016.
Aaron Ross and Sanya Richards-Ross
You probably wouldn’t want to go up against this sports power couple in any sort of friendly competition. The former NFL cornerback began dating the track and field star back in 2003, and they tied the knot in 2010. The couple famously shared a sweet moment at the 2012 Olympics when Richards-Ross, now a four-time gold medalist, ran over to her husband for a celebratory kiss after competing.
Curtis Conway and Laila Ali
Another heavyweight couple in sports: Curtis Conway and Laila Ali. The former wide receiver, who was drafted into the Chicago Bears in 1993, has been married to the four-time boxing champion and author for over a decade. They share two kids together, a son born in 2008 and a daughter in 2011. Conway also has three children from a previous marriage.
Andrew East and Shawn Johnson
The Washington Redskins player married former Olympics gymnastic champion Shawn Johnson in 2016. The two reportedly met in 2013 through East’s brother, a fellow athlete. The couple tied the knot in an outdoor ceremony held at a private barn in Nashville, where they currently live.
Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete
The retired NFL player and the actress have been married for nearly 15 years. The former Carolina Panthers quarterback famously proposed to his wife during an episode of her sitcom, “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.” The couple has four children, including a twin daughter and son, and two younger sons. Their busy family life has been documented on two reality shows, OWN’S “For Peete’s Sake” and the Hallmark Channel’s “Meet the Peetes,” the latter of which is currently airing its second season.
Tim and Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Retired NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck met TV personality and future wife Elisabeth in college. The two tied the knot in 2002 and have stayed together through multitude career changes, from the former’s transition from a pro player into an ESPN analyst to the latter’s co-hosting stints on “The View” and “Fox & Friends.” The couple shares a daughter and two sons.
