Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz and his wife, former soccer pro Julie Ertz, are welcoming a new member to their family. On social media, the couple announced they are expecting their second baby together. The two are already parents to Madden Matthew, 19 months.
“Happy Birthday Mama! We love you!” Zach wrote in the Instagram post that included him and Julie who is showing off her baby bump. “Adding to the family Summer 2024!”
Zach and Julie Ertz got engaged in 2016 and tied the knot in 2017. The two first met at a baseball game in 2012 when Zach was playing football and Julie was playing soccer at nearby universities. Over the years, the two have supported each other in their pro sports careers. Zach was there when Julie helped the United States Women’s National Team win the World Cup in 2015, and Julie was on the field when Zach helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2018.
“I love watching Julie play [soccer],” Zach said in ESPN The Magazine‘s Body issue in 2017. “I know how much work she puts into her sport and her craft — to see that hard work pay off is very satisfying to me too.”
“I think it’s a lot easier for me to watch Zach play [football] than it is for his other family members, just because I know how much he loves the sport and how hard he works at it,” Julie added. “The closer I sit, when I hear more of the pads banging against each other, my heart races a little bit. But I just want him to succeed and do what he loves.”
Zach Ertz joins new NFL team in 2024
Zach Ertz is entering his 12th NFL season. He signed a one-year contract with the Commanders in March after being on the Detroit Lions practice squad during the playoffs last season. Before joining the Lions, Ertz spent nearly three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2013, Ertz was selected in the second round of the draft by the Eagles. Along with winning a Super Bowl, Ertz was named to the Pro Bowl three times while in Philadelphia.
“They’ve essentially redone the entire building since I came into the league,” Ertz said on The Pat McAfee Show at the time of his signing. “New owner, new GM, a new head coach and I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about Dan Quinn and so I’m extremely excited to play for him and to get back on the East Coast is going to be fun.”
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