That special kind of love! Jessie James Decker and Eric Decker have a love story that’s all their own — and Us Weekly is taking a look back on the pair’s journey to happiness over the years.
The “Wanted” singer and the former NFL pro began dating in 2011 after becoming acquainted through mutual friends. “He was in Arizona training, and I got a text from my girlfriend who said, ‘I’m having dinner with this guy I’m seeing, and this other guy just showed up, and he’s stunning,’” Jessie recalled to Access Hollywood in 2013. “Show him a picture of me, and see if he’s into it.”
After Eric received her number and took the initiative to text her first, Jessie said that she set out to go about their romance differently.
“From now on, if a man wanted me, he was going to have to show it,” she wrote in her 2018 memoir, Just Jessie. “So I made Eric chase me.”
The twosome eventually got engaged in 2012 and tied the knot the following year in Colorado. They went on to welcome three children together: Vivianne in 2014, Eric Jr. in 2015 and Forrest in 2018.
During an appearance on the “Motherly” podcast in 2019, the “I Look So Good” singer opened up about how becoming parents improved the duo’s marriage.
“It’s made it even stronger and made us even closer because you know — think about it,” she explained. “We created these people out of love together and now we’re raising three people that we have in common, not just biologically, but we have in common that we are so madly in love with these people that we created together.”
The “Lights Down Low” artist added, “And we have the same goal, which is to love them and take care of them and give them the best life we possibly can, which makes us closer and stronger.”
Eric has frequently gushed about his marriage to Jessie as well. In August 2019, the former Denver Broncos wide receiver called his wife the “perfect complement” to him.
“A lot of times, I can get more serious … and she’s so free-spirited,” he told Us at the time. “I just found that she brings kind of that enthusiasm to the house and kind of the light-hearted energy that I think is so important to just enjoy, you know, the moments that we have.”
Scroll down to see how Jessie and Eric’s romance has evolved over the years.
The pair began dating after meeting through mutual friends. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
Jessie and Eric announced that they were engaged. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
The couple’s reality show, Eric & Jessie, premiered on E. Tommy Garcia/E! Entertainment
The duo tied the knot at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Castle Rock, Colorado. Jim Smeal/Shutterstock
Jessie welcomed the pair’s first child, daughter Vivianne. Dave Allocca/Starpix/Shutterstock
The country singer gave birth to the couple’s second child, son Eric Jr. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
The final episode of the pair’s E! reality series aired. Tommy Garcia/E! Entertainment
The twosome’s third child, son Forrest, was born. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
In her memoir, Just Jessie, she shared various details about their romance, including how she made him chase her for three months. “I wouldn’t call it game playing. I’d call it common sense …. I made Eric hunt for me,” she wrote. “I never texted, called or anything-ed him first. I’m not kidding. For the first three months of our relationship, he never got an incoming call from me.”
The athlete gushed about Jessie to Us exclusively, saying, “She’s such a perfect complement to me, because a lot of times, I can get more serious … and she’s so free-spirited.” Jim Smeal/Shutterstock
Jessie explained how their pair’s marriage only became stronger when they introduced kids into the picture. “We already liked each other a ton before they came along, so it’s made us like each other that much more because we get to see each other as parents and I think we both are proud of the mother and father we are together,” she said on the “Motherly” podcast. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
Jessie admitted that planning date nights “can get a little tough” with three children. “We have our Netflix moments,” she shared with Us. “We’re trying to finish Schitt’s Creek so we can move onto You.” Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
The singer discussed the possibility of the couple expanding their brood. “He just loves our babies so much. He wants more,” she told Us at the time. “I told him he’s got to just hang on for a minute there. I’m not sure that’s in the cards for us, but you never know. He doesn’t want to permanently do anything about it, so he is leaving things open. I’m not, but he is.” Matt Baron/Shutterstock
The longtime duo celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary with sweet Instagram tributes. “I married my best friend 7 years ago today. Happy anniversary to the love [of] my life 💖,” Jessie captioned her post, while Eric wrote alongside his own, “I love you, adore you and will forever strive to make your life full! You have given me the most beautiful life and I am forever grateful!! Happy 7 years mi amor.” Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
Eric referred to Jessie as his “forever” while sharing a PDA-filled pic for Instagram. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
Jessie and Eric celebrated Valentine’s Day with sweet Instagram tributes. “Damn I love you! 10 years next month my sweet cheeks Valentine sugar D. Love living life with you @ericdecker,” she captioned her post of the pair cozied up, while the former NFL star wrote alongside their kissing pic, “My Valentine, Mi Amor! ❤️.” Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
“Happy 10 years to the love of my life @ericdecker 💗 March 31 (which is the actual day we were introduced to each other) little did we know it would be the day our third baby was born,” the designer captioned a throwback photo with her man. “I love you baby here’s to 10 more beautiful years and beyond 🥳😘🥰 (this photo was takin 2011, the year we met. We look like kids 🥰).” Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
The country singer shared a nude photo of her husband via Instagram Stories, seemingly taken without him noticing — and with the raciest parts hidden by a water jar. "Cheers and goodnight," she captioned the flirtatious post. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker
“Happiest on the water,” Jessie wrote via Instagram alongside a group photo from the family’s trip to Greece. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
The lovebirds packed on the PDA while in Italy both with and without their three little ones. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
The duo jetted off to Spain with friends, including Alex Rodriguez. “Missin the crew already! Magical time with amazing friends😍😍😍,” the mother of three captioned a series of Instagram photos from their time away. Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
“The birthday boy In his birthday suit lookin like a statue from Greece😝 My man is 35 and aging like fine wine,” the “Should Have Known Better” songstress wrote via Instagram, sharing a nude photo of her husband. “Happy happy birthday to the love of my life, my best friend, my soulmate, my baby daddy, my ride or die. I’m so happy you were born today. I sure do I love growing old with you 🥰.” Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
"I woke up to this big bouquet of roses from him. They're beautiful. I was not expecting it. I was like, 'Oh my God, you're so sweet that you like acknowledged it,'" Jessie told Entertainment Tonight about her anniversary. "We're very lucky to have found each other." Courtesy of Jessie James Decker/Instagram
The musician stepped out with her husband for the 2022 CMT Music Awards in Nashville. During the couple’s date night, Eric revealed that after forgetting his wedding ring for the event Jessie tattooed her initials in sharpie on his ring finger. John Amis/AP/Shutterstock
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