Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek

What is it with football players and cheerleaders of the same team only meeting if it happens away from the field? Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek might have an answer. In 2013, both were with the New England Patriots. But they only met for the first time during a charity event.

The couple has been together for a long time yet appears to be in no rush to get engaged or exchange vows. However, they are very supportive of each other’s careers. Gronkowski celebrated Kostek’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition cover revealed in 2019. And she has been equally vocal about backing his 2022 decision to retire from football.

Russell Wilson and Ciara

Getting a second chance at romance to “Level Up” one’s love life doesn’t happen often; singer Ciara likely agrees. Following the end of her engagement to the rapper Future, she started dating Denver Broncos Quarterback Russell Wilson. They got married on July 6, 2016. Along with Ciara’s son Future Jr., they share two children.

They also have joint business ventures. In 2021 they launched a fragrance line and snagged a first-look deal with Amazon Studios. Individually, they have found success as well. Wilson founded TraceMe, a network platform that enables fans to connect with celebrities. Ciara has modeled for Verizon and Adidas and became a Global Brand Ambassador for Revlon.

Corey Liuget and Faven

Some football players are recruited right out of college. Others, like Corey Liuget, are drafted while still more than a few units shy of a degree. He famously decided to forego his senior season for the 2011 NFL Draft.

Now he’s retired and set to focus more time on the three daughters he shares with influencer and TV personality Faven. In 2022, she launched ADERA, luxury kids’ wear inspired by her Ethiopian heritage. The brand offers high-quality, custom-designed clothes without compromising sustainability, thanks to its emphasis on using organic fabrics. With her hands full, perhaps Liuget can have their children teach him his wife’s native language of Amharic.

Jared Goff and Christen Harper

If you doubt whether dating apps really work, just ask Jared Goff and Christen Harper. The pair swiped right on each other. Harper, a model featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition of 2021, admits that from their first date, she was into Goff. The duo got engaged on June 16, 2022.

Goff, who had an unsuccessful rookie season, rebounded to collect NFL Awards. The Detroit Lions quarterback has been NFC Champion and the PFWA Most Improved Player. In 2020, he donated $250K to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. And in 2022, he gifted Microsoft Surface laptops to students under the Fate Detroit Program.

Kyle Van Noy and Marissa Powell

Another pair of college sweethearts have made it to our list. Kyle Van Noy and Marissa Powell met at Brigham Young University. She is known for bagging the Miss Utah USA title in 2013 and finishing third place at the Miss USA pageant. Meanwhile, he is a linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers.

In a 2021 interview, Van Noy opened up about being adopted as a baby. During one of their first dates, she asked him to share an obscure fact about himself. So he told her about his adoption. Together, they built the Van Noy Valor Foundation, which facilitates foster care and adoption.