Have you ever wondered how top NFL stars can find time to enjoy normal relationships? What with strict training regimes and touch matches to get through (with each team playing 17 games over 18 weeks), there’s also the possibility of picking up injuries. On top of all that, you have to factor in the mental stresses and strains of being in the middle of such a competitive lifestyle. But the fact so many NFL stars are in long-term relationships, including marriage, proves that it is possible! Let’s take a closer look into how these professional athletes go about searching for a love interest, and what this could teach the rest of us about balancing our work/life commitments.

Why football stars are desired partners

This question is surely a bit of a no-brainer! We’re talking about athletes, at the peak of their physical fitness, who can earn eye-watering amounts of income (the median wage for NFL players is over $850,000). This means they represent quite a catch for any girls looking for men on various online platforms. Singles on the lookout for these super-eligible bachelors can refer to digital dating services, a discreet channel where they can flirt with star players in privacy. So many people from every walk of life are resorting to the convenience and flexibility of these hook-up services. The site users they encounter are far less likely to be starstruck than some of the fans who follow this sport. Using texts, emails, WhatsApp messages or video chats, contact can be instigated within a few keyboard clicks.

Professional sports and romantic life

Sportsmen face all sorts of hurdles when it comes to looking for love. They have a limited lifespan as a top athlete, meaning they might worry about the longer-term implications of getting involved. American football is an intensely physical activity, and injuries are commonplace – some of which have the potential to be life-threatening or life-altering. But the pluses tend to far outweigh the minuses. Most players will have astute financial advisors who will help them manage their resources. When it comes to their contracts, some star sportsmen might end up playing for several major teams. For their wives and girlfriends, this represents an unparalleled opportunity to check out up-and-coming match schedules. There might be a lot of travelling, seeing different cities for matches, or promotional events, and experiencing exciting new environments. Those considerable incomes allow a lot of scope for leisure pursuits, such as yachting, exotic sightseeing, and much more.

Famous couples and ex-couples in NFL

Russell Wilson and Ciara

Denver Broncos quarterback, Russel Wilson, a multi-talented athlete who also has played collegiate baseball, has enjoyed an illustrious career since first joining the Seattle Seahawks in 2012. He has also fronted numerous ad and sponsorship campaigns, including Levis, Nike, and Microsoft (so is unlikely to be strapped for cash anytime soon!) He is also namechecked in an Eminem song. His first wife was a high school student, but he married R&B singer, Ciara, in 2016, tying the knot at the scenic Peckforton Castle in England.

Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles

Playing strong safety for Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers, Owens was training to become a doctor before succumbing to the allure of the football pitch. He got engaged to US gymnast, Simone Biles, in 2022, and they married a year later. They met during the pandemic when so many singletons had to resort to relying on dating apps. Owens and Biles connected in the digital environment, like so many people are doing these days, athletes or otherwise. And the rest is history.

Aaron Rodgers dated Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley

New York Jets quarterback, Rodgers, accumulated many passing records with his first side, the California Golden Bears, and is regarded as one of the top players of all time at his position. He dated Olivia Munn (actress and former TV host) from 2014 to 2017. In 2020 he began dating top actress Shailene Woodley, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated star of the Divergence series, who shared many of his humanitarian ideals. They called this off in 2022.

Nnamdi Asomugha and Kerry Washington

A cornerback with the San Francisco 49ers since 2013, Asomugha is the son of Nigerian parents and has also acted in a variety of roles. He was an executive producer for the hard-hitting movie about African child soldiers, Beasts of No Nation. He married Emmy-nominated actress Kerry Washington in 2013.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen

Former quarterback, Brady played for the New England Patriots for 19 years before concluding his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Once dating actress, Bridget Moynahan, with whom he has a child he started going out with Brazilian model, Bundchen in 2006. They were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend, eventually marrying in 2009 in Santa Monica. Bundchen has been vocal about her concerns for her husband, in light of many years playing professional football.