Football Stars Who Cheated On Their Partners
In any given NFL game, players can be seen making mistakes. Maybe a running back will fail to secure the ball properly and fumble it during a crucial moment. Or perhaps the quarterback, in a panicked state after being rushed, throws the ball to an opposing player, who runs the other way for six points. And on the defensive side of the ball, guys miss tackles all the time, and failing to grab an easy interception is fairly commonplace.
All of those errors get big media attention, depending on the game and how deep in the season a team is. But the number of those news stories is nothing compared to when players make an off-the-field mistake like cheating on their mate.
So for this go-around, we took a look at those NFL players who've been called out for being unfaithful and provided all of the pertinent background info. Some of these men sullied their reputation after being accused of infidelity as well, something we'll also discuss. Are you ready to get into this? If yes, here it is, football stars who cheated on their partners.
Earl Thomas was caught at an Airbnb
In the wee hours of April 13, 2020, former NFL free safety Earl Thomas was being chased around a vehicle at his house by a woman who had a knife while he held a gun. Was she a crazed fan who wanted to inflict harm? Was the woman a burglar committing a violent robbery? Nope. It was neither of those. She was Nina Thomas, the ex-football player's now-estranged wife. TMZ reported that she learned Earl was cheating on her after logging into his Snapchat account. After using the platform to track him down at an Airbnb, she found him and his brother Seth Thomas undressed in bed with some women. Nina also brought two of her friends with her to confront Earl and pulled a gun on him after seeing everything.
Later, the former couple went back home and that's when police arrived and saw Nina chasing Earl with the knife. She was arrested on charges of burglary of a residence with intent to commit aggravated assault with a deadly weapon — family violence. Her two friends were arrested as well. Per TMZ, Nina filed for divorce in November 2020, listing adultery as the cause.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support on their website.
Chad Johnson got into legal trouble
Chad Johnson, also known by his nickname "Ochocinco," wasn't only accused of cheating on his ex-wife, Evelyn Lozada, he lost his NFL career due to what happened in the aftermath. Less than a month into their marriage, in August 2012, Johnson and Lozada got into an argument after the former "Basketball Wives" star spotted a receipt for condoms in their vehicle. Johnson said that he purchased the contraceptives for a buddy, which led to more arguing. Lozada spoke about what happened next during an interview with "Good Morning America."
"I knew that he was lying, and I told him ... 'I'm not sticking by you through this,'" the reality star said, shortly after the incident. "I don't care if my marriage is the laughing stock of the world and then the next thing I know he headbutted me."
The assault left a three-inch laceration on Lozada's forehead. She eventually went to the hospital and Johnson was arrested for domestic violence after a neighbor phoned the authorities. The Washington Post reported that Johnson pleaded no contest and was put on probation. He was also ordered not to contact Lozada either on or offline. They were divorced in September 2012 after she left him.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support on their website.
Delanie Walker's fiancée invaded his Instagram
When a woman by the name of Racine Lewin accused NFL player Delanie Walker of cheating on her, she used a little creativity. In 2015, Lewin got into Walker's Instagram account and posted a message as if he wrote it himself. And to make things even more scandalous, the message was uploaded on Valentine's Day.
"This is my girlfriend/fiancée of 10 years. Her name is Racine," Lewin wrote in the since-deleted upload shared by Uproxx. "I broke up with her just a few days ago, like I do every February because I have no self control in the off season. I'm a 'celebrity' and she no longer looks good enough for my 'image' while I'm not playing football. She's also 4 months pregnant so I figured it was the perfect time to take advantage of her." She also let Walker know they were having a girl in her message.
Lewin shared more words in another deleted post and wrote that blasting Walker publicly was out of her character, but she was tired of being taken advantage of. The hurt fiancée followed that up by stating she was leaving Walker because she didn't want to set a bad example for their daughter who was on the way. She closed her message by writing if Walker stayed loyal to her for one year straight, she'd marry him. But it was a challenge that he couldn't meet, based on her post.
Eugene Robinson got arrested right before the Super Bowl
In Super Bowl XXXIII, played on January 31, 1999, former NFL safety Eugene Robinson and his Atlanta Falcons were taken down by legendary quarterback John Elway and the Denver Broncos. And on the night before the big game, Robinson was taken down by the Miami police. His crime? Soliciting a sex worker. He allegedly approached an undercover cop in downtown Miami and was busted. The Washington Post reported that Robinson — who's married with two children — was staying in a nearby hotel since the Super Bowl was held in Miami that year. His wife and children were in town with him as well.
He was still able to play in the Super Bowl, however, after being released that same night and promising to appear in court within a month. It's safe to say that people were shocked by the arrest, since Robinson often spoke of his Christian faith, was considered a family man, and was given the Bart Starr Award on the same day of his booking. The award recognizes sports figures who are of high moral fiber.
"I know a lot of people are saying that I'm just another hypocritical Christian. I deserve that," Robinson told the press after the game, per ESPN. "Reputation? I can deal with that. The hurt? My wife? That means much, much more to me." It seems the family got through the situation, though, as Robinson and his wife are still together, as of this writing.
Jana Kramer said Mike Caussin was a serial cheater
Country music singer Jana Kramer was a guest on a 2022 episode of Jada Pinkett Smith's Facebook show, "Red Table Talk" and opened up about her ex-husband, former Buffalo Bills player Mike Caussin, cheating on her. They got married in 2015 and divorced in 2021. During the conversation, Kramer said she learned the truth about Caussin's infidelity after a girlfriend advised her to check phone bills. She took that advice and began calling those numbers, only to confirm that he really was being unfaithful.
"So, over time you found out that he cheated with about 13 women?" Pinkett Smith asked Kramer. "More," she answered, while her eyes filled with tears. Elsewhere in the interview, the singer, actor, and podcast host admitted to destroying a few items upon learning of the infidelity.
"I shattered so many things in my house ... there was this pantry door," she admitted. "Me and my girlfriends we took a bat to it and we just shattered it. Then I destroyed all his Xboxes that he said was his only vice. I wrote all over his tux. I went real crazy for a minute." Some might not blame Kramer for reacting that way. But still, on the "It Sure Is A Beautiful Day" podcast, the "I Hope It Rains" singer said she eventually forgave her ex. She did that to not be stuck in the past.
Jordan Poyer's wife and alleged mistress got into it
Jordan Poyer, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Buffalo Bills, was in the middle of an online dispute between his wife, Rachel Bush, and alleged mistress, Summer Rae, in 2018. The drama unfolded after Rae accused Bush of threatening her with physical harm and legal action for being with her husband. "You'll never be a mother or a wife anyone respects," one of Bush's messages read, according to Rae, later shared by the Daily Mail. "And if I ever see some sh*t like this come out your mouth or you text him this again, I'll be dragging your ass to court."
Rae — who was a student at the University at Buffalo then — said she shared the alleged threats because she finally decided to defend herself. She also explained why she spent time with Poyer in the first place. "I was told you guys were divorcing," Rae wrote, per the New York Post. "I was not with Jordan when you called me so no I didn't lie. ... I don't want your husband, I don't want to hurt or ruin your family. I saw that y'all got back together when he came to visit you, so I said my goodbyes to him and was happy for him."
As of 2022, Poyer and Bush are still together. They can be seen on their respective Instagram pages traveling to exotic locations and smooching one other.
Baker Mayfield was accused of hooking up with a fan
Did NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield cheat on his wife Emily Mayfield when he was playing for the Cleveland Browns in 2019? Based on what Kacie Dingess told the hosts of the "Rover's Morning Glory" show, the answer to that question is a big fat yes. Dingess, who was a fan of Mayfield's, said they met after she contacted him on Twitter. She was skeptical that it was really him when he replied, but after the Texas native vetted her and they exchanged photos, she drove to see him. From there, they allegedly trysted in the back of his SUV, which was parked behind a Cheesecake Factory.
Dingess said she outed Mayfield because he blocked her on social media after she kept quiet about their alleged encounter. The then-20-year-old also explained why she didn't feel bad about exposing him.
"To me it looks like they don't really care," she said about the Mayfields. "Like, they're just brushing it off. But I don't feel bad because, like, so many celebrities and players do this all the time and no one says anything about it." Dingess also showed the radio hosts nude photos that she said Mayfield sent to her. He's never responded to her cheating claim.
Tiki Barber was vilified by the press
Tiki Barber, who was a star running back for the New York Giants, was accused of cheating on his ex-wife, Ginny Cha, with Traci Lynn Johnson. It was also reported that he was unfaithful while Cha was pregnant with their twin girls. Barber — who's more than 10 years Johnson's senior — met her while he was working on the "Today" show and she was an NBC intern. Barber and Cha already had two sons by the time the retired football player met Johnson. As the New York Post reported, Barber admitted to Cha that he was having an affair, which she was completely in the dark about.
"She had no idea what was going on," a source told the publication. "She had no idea about this relationship with Traci Johnson until he left in late November. There were no [apparent] problems in the marriage."
Due to his on-the-field accomplishments, Barber was once a New York media darling, but all of that changed after he was accused of cheating. Especially because he was seen hanging out with Johnson while Cha was pregnant in the hospital. Barber filed for divorce from Cha in 2010, as the New York Daily News reported, and married Johnson in July 2012. The couple — who've both denied seeing each other until Barber was separated — have two daughters together.
A woman claimed that Richard Sherman fathered her child
In September 2021, it was said that NFL cornerback Richard Sherman cheated on his wife, Ashley Moss, with a woman named Reina Westburg, who claimed he fathered her child. The YBF reported that a friend of Moss publicly exposed the alleged affair by blasting Westburg on social media. "You're out here ruining homes," the friend wrote, who then tagged Westberg. "And that baby won't get the love it deserves because you don't know how to love or respect anything."
At one point, Westburg called Moss' pal and they had it out over the phone, which was recorded. The alleged mistress hurled plenty of insults during the conversation, calling the woman jealous and old. Westburg later began sharing photos of her child, West Sherman, and called the football player a deadbeat dad.
"At the end of the day Richard has known about his son West since I found out I was pregnant and hasn't helped out with a single dime," Westberg wrote on social media, which was published by The YBF. "[He] has never bought a diaper or anything but has still tried to have a relationship with me. I'm done." Sherman and Moss were married in 2018 and have two sons together.