Zach Ertz’s wife is Julie Ertz, a two-time Women’s World Cup champion and one of the most decorated soccer players in American history. Their love story started at a Stanford baseball game in 2012, and over a decade later, they have built one of sports’ most enduring power couples.
The NFL tight end and the former U.S. Women’s National Team star have been married since March 2017. Together, they share three sons: Madden, born in 2022, and twins Kace and Kyren, born in August 2024.
Julie announced her retirement from professional soccer in August 2023 after a legendary career. She won back-to-back World Cups with the USWNT in 2015 and 2019, earned 123 caps, and was twice named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.
Here’s everything you need to know about the woman behind Zach Ertz.
How Zach and Julie Met
The couple’s origin story is almost too perfect for a sports romance. It started at a Stanford University baseball game in 2012. Zach was playing football for Stanford, while Julie was playing soccer at nearby Santa Clara University.
“I saw Julie and thought, ‘I have to go sit next to her,’” Zach recalled in a 2019 interview. “So I sat there, and we started talking a little bit. And from there we started hanging out more, started dating, got engaged, and got married.”
Their relationship survived years of long distance. Zach was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, while Julie played for the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL.
In February 2016, Zach proposed at the exact spot where they first met, Klein Field at Stanford’s baseball stadium.
Who Is Julie Ertz?
Julie Beth Ertz (née Johnston) was born in Mesa, Arizona, and grew up playing soccer from the age of four. She played college soccer at Santa Clara University before being drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in 2014.
Her international career was extraordinary. She debuted for the USWNT in 2013 and went on to win two FIFA Women’s World Cups, in 2015 and 2019. She played as a center back in 2015 and as a defensive midfielder in 2019, showcasing remarkable versatility.
She earned 123 caps for the United States, scoring 20 goals. She started all 17 of her World Cup matches and played more minutes than any other U.S. player over the past three World Cups.
She was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019, and she is the only player to win both the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award and the senior award twice.
Julie retired from professional soccer on August 31, 2023, and played one final match for the USWNT on September 21, 2023, in Cincinnati.
Their Wedding and Family
Zach and Julie married on March 26, 2017, at the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, California. The wedding was personalized to reflect their shared athletic lives. The flower girl and ring bearer wore the couple’s jerseys, the cake topper featured both sports, and cappuccinos were embossed with footballs and soccer balls.
They welcomed their first child, son Madden Matthew, on August 11, 2022. In August 2024, Julie gave birth to twin boys, Kace and Kyren.
Zach has spoken openly about how Julie has handled the transition to motherhood. “Julie is crushing it,” he told reporters. “She’s an amazing mom. She’s made this transition from world’s best six to mom flawlessly. I’m so proud of everything she does.”
How They Keep Their Marriage Strong
In a 2025 interview, Zach and Julie opened up about how they prioritize their relationship amid the chaos of raising three young boys.
“When you have a wife as beautiful as this, it makes it very easy,” Zach said. “Whether it is an hour a day just being together after we put the kids down at night, making sure we go on a date every now and then, or as frequently as possible, and just being intentional that our marriage has to be at the forefront of everything we do.”
Julie emphasized communication as the key. “Having so much routine in playing sports made us have to be very good at communication,” she said. “Having kids only made it even more important.”
Recent Moments
The Ertz family made headlines in September 2026 when Zach returned to Philadelphia as a member of the Eagles for the first time in nearly five years. Before the game at Soldier Field, Zach shared an emotional pregame moment with Julie and one of their sons, wiping away tears as they embraced.
Julie has been by Zach’s side through every career stop, from Philadelphia to Arizona to Washington. And as Zach continues his NFL journey, Julie remains the constant: a World Cup champion, a mother of three, and the woman he calls his best friend.
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