Nicole Williams English Recalls the ‘Hardest Part’ About Dating an NFL Player (Exclusive)

Skyler CarusoSat, July 25, 2026 at 1:05 PM UTC

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Larry English and Nicole Williams English.Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic -

Nicole Williams English opened up on PEOPLE’s WAG World series about the challenges of dating NFL player Larry English early in their relationship

She shared how she built trust in their romance despite pressures from his social status and public attention

The couple married in 2017 and welcomed their first daughter, India Moon, in January 2023

Nicole Williams English tackled the challenges that came with dating a professional athlete.

On the latest episode of PEOPLE’s WAG World series, the four-time Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, 42, spoke candidly about the realties of being in a relationship with an NFL player while recalling the early days of her romance with her now-husband, former defensive end Larry English.

English pinpointed two obstacles that she learned to overcome when she started dating Larry, who was playing for the then-San Diego Chargers when their relationship began around 2011. The first had to do with his schedule and the second pertained to his social status.

Larry English and Nicole Williams English.Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty for Revolve

“I think the hardest part was how much he had to be away, and training camp is really rough because they’re gone for... maybe a month or two months?” English told WAG World host Skyler Caruso on the Thursday, July 23 episode released exclusively on the PEOPLE App.

“I think it’s a full month or maybe even more they have to be gone, and you can’t go to training camp,” she continued. “You’re not allowed to sleep in the hotel rooms or anything, so you’re literally separated.”

Beyond the grueling NFL schedule, English said the “hardest part” for her was “never knowing” if Larry was going to get traded to a different team — which could uproot the couple’s life.

“Larry did, before he retired, he signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so we had our house in L.A. and he was playing in Tampa,” she said. “I had to like take the two dogs at the time, get on a plane, go spend two weeks there, come home by myself, sleep in a house by myself for the whole season.”

Nicole Williams English and ‘WAG World’ host Skyler Caruso on set at PEOPLE Inc. Studios in New York City.Credit: Alex Huang

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“So it’s either you move with your man and live in a whole other city and leave your life behind,” English shared. “I was working all the time so I really couldn’t do that, so we spent a lot of time apart and that was the hardest.”

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Larry, now 40, was selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Chargers, where he played from 2009 to 2013. The defensive end officially retired after his one-season stint with the Buccaneers in 2014.

“I loved being at the games,” English recalled. “When he retired, it was more of a hit to me because I loved watching him be on the field, doing what he did, watching him tackle. I loved watching him in his element.”

English, whose early dating life with Larry was chronicled in the first three seasons of E!’s WAGS reality show from 2015 to 2017, explained the “confidence” she had to have to explore a relationship with a professional athlete.

Nicole Williams English attends the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year 2026.Credit: Denise Truscello/Getty

“I definitely have confidence, but I think that there’s a maturity aspect too,” she said. “When Larry and I were so good, that’s when other people wanted him more because they want what you have. So that part took a while for me to understand and get comfortable with.”

“The whole world saw it on WAGS. There was a part of me where I was like, ‘Well, if you’re going there, I’m coming with you,’ and I was always right behind him, but that doesn’t really do much because trust,” English said. “You have to allow things to happen so that they can build the trust.”

English experienced various life milestones while on E’!s WAGS, including her 2016 engagement. She and Larry tied the knot at Montage Laguna Beach in California in May 2017, and welcomed their first daughter, India Moon, in January 2023.

The reality star added how their trust blossomed over time.

“I definitely grew up,” English said on WAG World. “We trust each other and it’s stronger than ever now because of those times. You learn as you go.”

on People

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Source: “AOL Sports”