Zach Ertz and Julie Ertz: Inside Their Marriage and Careers

Zach Ertz and Julie Ertz have spent much of their adult lives at the highest levels of American professional sport. He built a long NFL career as a tight end, while she became a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and one of the most decorated players in U.S. women’s soccer.

Their story has also continued to attract attention because of what happened away from the field: a relationship that began during their college years, marriage in 2017, three children, and the creation of a family foundation focused on sports, education, and community support.

Zach is back in the spotlight in September 2026 after the Philadelphia Eagles brought him back to their practice squad. The move followed an injury to Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert and gives Ertz another opportunity with the team that drafted him in 2013. The NFL reported that Ertz had 825 career receptions, 8,592 receiving yards, and 57 touchdowns entering his return to Philadelphia.

How Zach and Julie Ertz Met

The couple met while they were both in college in California. Zach was playing football at Stanford, while Julie was attending nearby Santa Clara University and developing her soccer career.

Their relationship became long-distance after Zach entered the NFL and was selected by Philadelphia in the second round of the 2013 draft. Julie was beginning her professional soccer career with the Chicago Red Stars around the same period.

The couple became engaged in 2016 and married in March 2017. The Ertz Family Foundation says they had been discussing the idea of creating an organization together since their college years.

Zach Ertz’s NFL Career

Zach Ertz spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles after being selected No. 35 overall in the 2013 draft.

His Philadelphia years included three Pro Bowl selections and the team’s Super Bowl LII championship. Ertz caught the game-winning touchdown in Philadelphia’s 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in February 2018. The Eagles later described the catch as the most important touchdown in franchise history.

Ertz also established himself statistically. During the 2018 season, he caught 116 passes, setting an NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end at the time. The Washington Commanders noted that he finished his Philadelphia career with 579 receptions, 6,267 receiving yards, and 38 touchdowns.

After leaving Philadelphia in 2021, Ertz played for the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders. He signed a one-year, $6.25 million contract with Washington for the 2025 season, according to contract database Spotrac.

His 2025 campaign ended prematurely after he suffered a torn ACL. Before returning to Philadelphia in September 2026, Ertz had said he intended to continue his NFL career.

The Eagles signed him to their practice squad on Sept. 21, 2026. He returned just 11 receptions short of Harold Carmichael’s franchise record of 589 catches.

Julie Ertz’s Soccer Career

Julie Ertz built a similarly distinguished career in soccer.

Originally known by her maiden name, Julie Johnston, she made her senior U.S. national-team debut in 2013. She became an important part of the American team that won the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups.

U.S. Soccer credits Ertz with 123 international appearances and 20 goals. She played primarily as a central defender early in her international career before becoming a major presence in defensive midfield. She also represented the United States at two Olympic Games and helped the team win a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

At club level, Ertz spent most of her NWSL career with the Chicago Red Stars, who selected her third overall in the 2014 draft. She was named NWSL Rookie of the Year that season and later played for Angel City FC.

Ertz announced her retirement from professional soccer in August 2023. Her final U.S. national-team appearance came the following month against South Africa in Cincinnati, bringing her international career to 123 appearances.

Marriage, Family and Life Away From Sport

Zach and Julie have also had to manage the demands of two professional sporting careers.

Their first child, son Madden, was born in August 2022. Julie returned to the U.S. national team in 2023 after 18 months away from the field, including injury recovery and the birth of her son.

In August 2024, the couple announced the birth of twin sons, Kace and Kyren, making them a family of five. The Washington Commanders also identify Madden, Kace, and Kyren as Zach’s three sons.

The transition from two active sporting careers to family life has been another part of their story. Zach continued playing in the NFL after Julie retired, while Julie shifted her attention toward family and philanthropic work.

The Ertz Family Foundation

Zach and Julie launched the Ertz Family Foundation in 2018. According to the foundation, its work centers on youth sports, education, and support for families and communities.

The couple’s foundation has continued operating after Julie’s retirement. In September 2024, it announced a $100,000 donation to the House of Hope in North Philadelphia and plans for a community event in Washington, D.C., intended to provide meals and coats to vulnerable residents.

The foundation’s work has kept both athletes connected to Philadelphia and other communities even as their professional careers have taken them to different cities.

What Is Zach Ertz’s Net Worth?

There is no publicly audited figure for Zach Ertz’s personal net worth, so estimates published online should be treated cautiously.

What can be established more reliably is his NFL earnings. Spotrac lists his career earnings through the 2025 season at approximately $80.96 million, while Over The Cap reports career earnings of about $80.8 million. The figures differ slightly because the databases use different accounting methodologies.

Celebrity Net Worth and other entertainment-oriented websites have previously placed Ertz’s net worth around $16 million, while some other publications have published substantially higher estimates. Those figures are estimates rather than financial disclosures and should not be confused with career salary or total earnings.

What Is Julie Ertz’s Net Worth?

Julie Ertz’s finances are also not publicly disclosed in a verified personal balance sheet.

Celebrity Net Worth currently lists an estimate of $3 million for Julie Ertz. That figure is not an independently audited valuation, and other websites have published different estimates.

Her professional income came from her NWSL and U.S. national team career, along with commercial opportunities associated with her status as a World Cup champion. However, publicly available sources do not provide enough information to establish her current net worth with precision.

For the same reason, adding online estimates for Zach and Julie together should not be presented as a verified figure for the couple’s combined wealth.

Where Zach Ertz and Julie Ertz Stand Now

The most recent development in Zach Ertz’s career is his return to Philadelphia. The Eagles signed him to their practice squad on Sept. 21, 2026, after Dallas Goedert suffered an MCL sprain. The move puts Ertz back with the franchise where he spent the first nine seasons of his career and where he won his Super Bowl.

Julie, meanwhile, remains retired from professional soccer. Her legacy includes two Women’s World Cup titles, 123 U.S. appearances, and major roles at both club and international level.

Together, the Ertzes have moved into a different phase of their lives: Julie has completed her playing career, Zach is still pursuing his NFL career, and the couple is raising three sons while continuing the charitable work they began through their foundation.