12 NFL Stars Who Were Caught Cheating On Their Partners

Over the years, NFL players have continued to be admired for their performances, skills, and strength. But several NFL players have made headlines and grabbed media attention due to the infidelity scandals and cheating on their partners.

Surbhi Khera
October 15, 2025
4 min read

12 NFL Stars Who Were Caught Cheating On Their Partners — © Denny Medley-Imagn Images

NFL players are celebrated by the fans for their contributions to the sport, but they grabbed eyeballs due to their scandals revolving around cheating on their partners. The stories shocked the world, tarnished their reputation, and have put the relationships on stake.

12. Fred Smoot

Fred Smoot, a former NFL player, was involved in the infamous 2005 ‘Love Boat’ scandal with the Minnesota Vikings. Daunte Culpepper was also present at the party. It is reported that the players hired sex workers. Years later, Fred Smoot was arrested for domestic assault as well.

11. Daunte Culpepper

The former NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper married Kimberly Rah in 2002 and has four children together. He was involved in the Minnesota Vikings boat party scandal of 2005, where he, along with other Vikings players, participated in a boat party and hired sex workers. They were reportedly involved in lewd behavior, and the act grabbed the media’s attention and legal consequences.

10. Deshaun Watson

In 2021, Deshaun Watson was accused by multiple women of sexual harassment during massage therapy sessions. But Watson denied all the accusations, stating that the sexual activities were consensual. Despite all the allegations and acceptance of being involved in consensual acts, his relationship with a model and influencer, Killy Anais, has remained intact. The couple announced their engagement in March 2025.

9. Greg Hardy

Former NFL player and UFC fighter Greg Hardy has been under the wrath of cheating and domestic violence scandals. His girlfriend accused him of violence during a cheating confrontation, but Hardy denied the allegations.

8. Marcus Allen

Marcus Allen was married to Kathryn Eickstaedt in 1993. He was a close friend of O.J. Simpson, but the friendship soured when the reports of Marcus dating Simpson’s wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, surfaced. Though there were numerous pieces of evidence to prove the affair but Marcus Allen continued to deny it and maintains his innocence.

7. Steve Smith Sr.

Steve Smith, a former NFL wide receiver, married Angie Smith in 2000, and they have four children together. He was involved in an affair with Nicole Martinez, a member of the Baltimore Ravens’ marching band. Her husband accused Smith and even filed a lawsuit against him under the ‘home wrecker law’.

6. Jordan Poyer

Jordan Poyer married Instagram model Rachel Bush in 2018. In the same year, Poyer was accused of cheating with Summer Rae, a college student. Later, Poyer apologized publicly and expressed regret for his actions. Despite the infidelity scandal, the couple has remained together.

5. Earl Thomas

Earl Thomas and his wife, Nina Thomas, were involved in an ugly infidelity and confrontation scandal. Nina tracked Earl Thomas’ location and armed herself with a pistol when she went to confront him. She accused him after discovering him in bed with his brother and two other women. The couple got engaged in a physical altercation during the confrontation, and Nina was arrested for carrying arms.

4. Delanie Walker

Delanie Walker, former tight end for the Tennessee Titans, was engaged to Racine Lewin, and the couple was together for almost 10 years. They even welcomed a daughter together. But Lewin hacked Walker’s Instagram and accused him of cheating her during the pregnancy period. The couple parted ways after the infidelity allegations.

3. Cody Ford

The offensive guard for the Cincinnati Bengals, Cody Ford, was engaged to Tianna Robillard, a social media influencer. The couple announced their engagement in April 2024 but called it off in June 2024. Robillard accused Ford of cheating on her twice during their relationship. She also stated that she learnt about the infidelity while she was on a work trip through social media live sessions and messages.

2. Ronnie Stanley

Ronnie Stanley dated Emily Kuch for almost 8 years before they got engaged in 2021. They planned their wedding for 2022, but it was called off just a few hours before the ceremony due to multiple instances. Due to the repeated allegations and instances, the relationship got strained, leading to a distance between the couple. Emily Kuch revealed the details on a podcast highlighting the emotional distress and distance.

1. Ryan Shazier

Former linebackers of Pittsburgh Steelers, Ryan Shazier married Michelle Rodriguez in 2019. The couple welcomed a son together, but in 2023, Michelle accused him of cheating and sharing explicit messages with another woman named Marie. His wife blasted on social media, calling him a ‘liar and cheater,’ but later deleted the post. The couple filed for divorce in January 2024.