This story is based on an interview with Ali Ridgeway, 28, currently living in New Orleans. She is married to NFL player John Ridgeway, 26. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
People often think that the wives and girlfriends of professional football players live an entirely glamorous lifestyle.
Not so. There are some perks, and you get to attend some high-profile events, but the rest of the time, you’re just a regular person with all that goes with it.
It’s easy to make friends with other NFL wives and girlfriends
The women I’ve met, whose partners have played for the various teams my husband has been a part of, are down-to-earth, friendly, and great company. It’s easy to make friends with them because we’re all in the same situation when our partners are busy for such long hours.
We often coordinate our flights so that we can travel together for away games. One of my best friends, whose fiancé also plays for the New Orleans Saints, was pregnant at the same time as me, and we have baby playdates together.
Courtesy of the Ridgeway family
John and I met at Illinois State University, where we were both student athletes. He had gotten a full football scholarship. We had a lot in common, but nothing romantic happened between us until 2020, when I was in grad school.
I was drawn to John’s personality because he’s the funniest person I know. He always made me laugh with his dry humor and random one-liners.
He is 6 feet 5 inches, so I feel pretty short when I’m standing next to him.
I found out I was pregnant the day after we returned from our honeymoon
When he was playing football in college, we didn’t think much about him making the NFL. You don’t really think that far ahead when you’re young.
But when he was drafted in 2022, we were ecstatic. Football is his life — and mine, too, by default.
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He proposed in May 2023, going down on one knee in a private room at a steakhouse full of photos of us and strewn with petals. I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
Our wedding took place in April 2024. It was a Saturday, and John went back for practice on Monday. We had postponed our honeymoon in Hawaii for a couple of months, and I found out I was pregnant the day after we returned.
Courtesy of the Ridgeway family
We’d talked about starting a family for a while, and were delighted that it happened so quickly. I was nauseous and spent a lot of time on the couch while he was training. That summer, he left the Washington Commanders, who play in Maryland, for training with the New Orleans Saints.
It was tough packing up all our belongings while I was sick. Still, moving is an inevitable part of being a football wife. If you do the math, John and I have lived in five different states.
The footballers’ partners are treated well
Our son, Johnny, was born during the offseason in February 2025. We were back in our permanent home in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois — where our family lives — and it was great to have their physical and emotional help.
John left for training camp in New Orleans when our son was 8 weeks old. It was a little nerve-racking before he secured his place on the Saints’ roster for the season. Then, Johnny and I moved to New Orleans to join him.
I love it here. The Saints treat the footballers’ wives and girlfriends well and provide childcare during games that we attend for free. But I’ve taken Johnny, now 9 months old, to watch his dad play, wearing noise protection. He sits on my lap and sometimes falls asleep — much to John’s dismay.
It’s been exciting to see him fulfill his potential. He knows that I’ll love him and support him wherever football takes him.
