Love in the League: These NFL Power Couples Scored More Than A Touchdown With Each Other
Kirk Cousins and Julie Hampton
Kirk Cousins and Julie Hampton
Adam Thielen and Caitlin Thielen
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen and his wife Caitlin have a pregame ritual: he searches the seats for her, so she stands up to wave. Seeing her is enough encouragement for Adam.
They were college sweethearts, although prior to their marriage, Caitlin was a substitute teacher before becoming a lifestyle blogger. Supportive of each other since the early days, they have channeled this as well to the Thielen Foundation, which focuses on youth development and as well as empowerment.
Jared Goff and Christen Harper
Celebrities do use dating apps, as Jared Goff and Christen Harper will attest. The Detroit Lions quarterback and “Sports Illustrated” model met through one. Goff, according to Harper, was very persistent, and it took her a while to agree to a date.
They got engaged in 2022. In between possibly planning for the big day, the couple does charity work. Harper volunteers for the non-profit Girls Inc. of L.A., and Goff donated $250K to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Matthew Stafford and Kelly Hall
Ready for another storybook match in sports? Fantastic because here’s Matthew Stafford and Kelly Hall. A football player and a cheerleader falling in love is nothing new, but when it lasts, it’s a different matter. They met during college at the University of Georgia.
Married since 2015, they were put to the test when Hall was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She underwent a twelve-hour surgery and then a long recovery period. Stafford was at her side the entire time.
Russell Wilson and Ciara
When two of the biggest stars in entertainment meet, a supernova romance follows. This is exactly what happened when Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and singer Ciara met in 2015. A wedding in 2016 and a kid in 2017 followed soon after.
Wilson and Ciara each have an impressive resume: she co-owns a rum brand, is a spokesperson for Revlon, and is a children’s book author; Wilson has endorsements with Nike, Pepsi, and Microsoft, plus a master’s in educational leadership and policy analysis.
Derek Carr and Heather Neel
Here’s another pair who have been in love since high school—quarterback Derek Carr and influencer Heather Neel. They actually met at a restaurant where Neel was waitressing. Carr got her attention by pointing out she was wearing only one earring.
The pair got married in 2012 and are parents to four children. They are quite active on social media, although Carr posts more about training and working during football season, while Neel shares lots of photos of their family.