NFL players live and breathe the game, but the intense demands of professional football can take a toll on their personal lives. From grueling travel schedules to all those small distractions that come from being famous, the challenges are always lurking, often leading to massive drama and relationship issues. While these athletes are pretty much superhumans on the field, their off-field escapades have sparked scandal, gossip, and ultimately, break up marriages.
1. Chris Howard and Gabrielle Union
Before Gabrielle Union married Dwyane Wade, she was with former NFL player Chris Howard for four years. Their marriage hit the rocks around 2004-2005 due to infidelity and just basic incompatibility. Gabrielle opened up about their troubled relationship on Dax Shepherd’s podcast, admitting to her own love escapades on the side, because she felt justified after learning Howard cheated on her. They even tried therapy, where the therapist suggested they weren’t compatible and should part ways. What a wild couple.
2. Tiki Barber and Virginia Barber
Tiki Barber, known for his numerous achievements with the New York Giants, found himself floating in lava-hot water in 2010 when news broke of his spicy fling with a hot young intern while still married to Virginia Barber for 11 years. To make things even worse, the cat got out of the bag while Virginia was pregnant with twins. Their divorce was finalized in 2012, and less than a week later, Tiki married the intern, Traci Lynn Johnson.
3. Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler
After years of being together and even having kids, Kristin Cavallari called her marriage to Jay Cutler’ toxic.’ The couple had a whirlwind romance, got engaged after eight months of courtship, but split briefly before tying the knot. Despite having relationship issues, they got married in 2013 and had three kids. The couple announced their split in 2020 without revealing any potential details, but later, in a 2022 podcast, Cavallari outright said that the biggest reason for their divorce was the toxic behavior. That’s when Cavallari also admitted that she’d been unhappy for years.
4. Kordell Stewart and Porsha Williams
Porsha Williams was once happily married to ex-NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart, but then she became famous. Initially, she was a devoted wife, but their relationship fizzled out when fame entered the picture. Stewart claimed Williams prioritized the reality TV spotlight over their marriage, but people were also spreading rumors about Stewart’s sexuality, which his wife was willing to believe for some reason. The couple divorced in 2013 after two years, marked by drama, including abuse allegations from Williams, which Stewart denied. Their divorce was finalized without spousal support for Williams.
5. Mike Caussin and Jana Kramer
Jana Kramer and ex-NFL player Mike Caussin’s relationship was rocky from the start, to say the least. But despite pointing fingers at each other while throwing cheating accusations in 2014, they decided it was still a good idea to get married. Caussin’s infidelity led to a brief split in 2016, with him seeking treatment for sex addiction. They discussed these struggles openly on their podcast, trying to mend their bond. However, Jana could not handle it anymore and filed for divorce in 2021, for which she forked over at least $500,000 to get everything finalized.
6. Johnny Manziel and Bre Tiesi
Bre Tiesi recently welcomed a child with Nick Cannon, who has quite a big family. But before dating Cannon, she was married to former NFL player Johnny Manziel. Their relationship kicked off in 2016, the year Manziel left the Cleveland Browns. They tied the knot in 2018, but things turned sour after allegations of infidelity surfaced. Tiesi went public with those allegations on social media, and their divorce was finalized in 2021. She celebrated her newfound freedom with a divorce bash in Miami, saying, “I do, I did, I’m officially done.”
7. Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett
Kendra Wilkinson, Hugh Hefner’s ex-girlfriend, and ex-NFL player Hank Baskett had a rocky nine-year marriage. They had a rough time battling cheating rumors, having trust issues, and dealing with depression, which eventually led to them splitting up. The biggest blow came when Baskett allegedly had an affair with a transgender woman while Wilkinson was pregnant. Despite trying to fix things, they called it quits in 2018. Wilkinson filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and it was finalized in 2019. In 2023, Wilkinson shared that she still loves Baskett for being a great dad to their kids.
8. Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen
Tom Brady, often hailed as the GOAT of football, and his supermodel wife, Gisele Bündchen, shocked fans when they split after 13 years of marriage in October 2022. Despite the breakup, they had already hammered out the details of their divorce settlement, thanks to a solid prenup. Brady’s NFL comeback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a real test of their relationship, as Bündchen wanted to spend more time with the family. So it seems that even though they grew apart over time, Gisele kept showing her unwavering support for Brady’s career.
