Zach and Julie Ertz are approaching a decade of marriage and recently added twin boys to their growing brood — but it hasn’t always been a walk in the park for the sports power couple.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Zach, 34, a tight end for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, and Julie, 32, a former soccer star for Team USA, admitted things were complicated when they first started dating in 2012.
“I think the hardest thing for us in the beginning is that we did distance for a really long time,” said Julie, who spoke to Us via the couple’s partnership with Russell Stover. “In order to chase our dreams in sports, I was in Chicago with the national team. We traveled all the time. Zach was in Philly.”
Zach signed with the Washington Commanders in March 2024 after spending the first 11 seasons of his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. In addition to her indelible mark on the U.S. National women’s soccer team, Julie played for the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Chicago Red Stars from 2014 to 2021.
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The couple wed in March 2017 and welcomed their first baby, son Madden, in August 2022. After Julie took a year-and-a-half break from professional soccer, she signed with the NWSL’s Angel City FC, which was a time in which she and Zach learned a lot about “trying to balance time with our newborn.”
“I think what we learned through that time is communication and supporting each other,” Julie reflected. “I think that has helped a lot, for sure. I think our faith is a big component of that, as well. But just communicating what our needs are and how to support each other in whatever season of life that we’re going through.”
As the couple looks to the future, Zach explained how going through their long distance days helped him and Julie understand “it’s just a season of your life.”
“Julie just retired after an amazing career. I’m towards the back end of my career,” he told Us. “It’s just about understanding that no matter how hard something is during the time, there’s going to be a time where we’re under the same roof every day.”
Zach and Julie welcomed twin boys, Kace and Kyren, in August 2024. In order to juggle the big change, they translated the experience gained from their athletic backgrounds to the homefront.
“You have to have a routine,” Zach explained. “You have to be able to communicate. Being athletes, the routine has been a huge part of our lives. Trying to get them on a sleep schedule as quickly as possible, understanding that it’s not going to be perfect. We live with a lot of grace and mercy with each other, as well as with the kids.”
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Despite all the chaos, Zach and Julie still find time to dote on one another, especially when it comes to a certain holiday.
“Valentine’s Day is such an important, strong part of our relationship,” Zach gushed. “Just having the opportunity to really take a day in February to celebrate one another.’
As Julie explained succinctly, being the faces of this year’s Russell Stover’s Tackle Valentine’s Day sweepstakes was a no-brainer. “Chocolate and Valentine’s Day? It wasn’t a hard partnership to come together and love.”
One lucky sweepstakes entrant will win a three-day trip for two to Santa Clara, California from February 7 to 9, 2026. Contest entries are open until February 28, 2025, at www.RussellStover.com/Valentines.
