Last Updated on October 20, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
Cole Kmet’s family has played an important role in his journey from a young football player in Illinois to an established NFL tight end for the Chicago Bears. Born to Frank and Kandace Kmet, he grew up alongside three younger siblings: Casey, Frankie and Cooper Kmet. His father is a former NFL player, while his maternal uncle, Jeff Zgonina, enjoyed a lengthy professional football career.
Born on March 10, 1999, in Lake Barrington, Illinois, Cole Kmet attended Saint Viator High School before playing college football and baseball at the University of Notre Dame. The Chicago Bears selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Away from football, Kmet is married to his longtime girlfriend, Emily Jarosz, whom he wed in June 2025. Here is everything publicly known about Cole Kmet’s wife, children, parents and siblings.
Cole Kmet’s Wife: Who Is Emily Jarosz?
Cole Kmet’s wife is Emily Jarosz, his longtime girlfriend and high school sweetheart. The couple married on June 7, 2025, after announcing their engagement in July 2024.
Unlike many professional athletes who meet their partners after achieving fame, Kmet and Jarosz began their relationship long before the Chicago Bears selected him in the NFL Draft.
Both attended Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where Kmet developed into a talented football and baseball player.
Their relationship reportedly began around 2017, when Kmet was preparing to begin his college football career at Notre Dame.
Although the couple has maintained a relatively private romantic life, Emily has supported Cole throughout his transition from college football to the NFL.
She has also attended Chicago Bears games and occasionally appeared in photographs shared on social media.
Who Is Emily Jarosz?
Emily Jarosz Kmet is the wife of Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet.
She attended Saint Viator High School before continuing her education at Loyola University Chicago, where she studied business administration.
According to biographical reporting published by ComingSoon in October 2024, Emily pursued a professional career involving business, marketing and recruitment.
She has reportedly worked as a talent acquisition specialist at MoLo Solutions, a logistics company.
Her professional experience has also included positions involving sales, market research and project management.
Although Emily has gained attention through her relationship with Kmet, she has generally maintained a private lifestyle rather than pursuing extensive media exposure.
When Did Cole Kmet and Emily Jarosz Get Engaged?
Cole Kmet announced his engagement to Emily Jarosz in July 2024, shortly before the beginning of Chicago Bears training camp.
The tight end shared photographs of the proposal on Instagram, including an image of Emily displaying her engagement ring.
The announcement attracted congratulations from Bears supporters, teammates and friends.
The engagement represented an important personal milestone for Kmet, who had already established himself as a key member of Chicago’s offense.
Cole Kmet and Emily Jarosz’s Wedding
Cole Kmet and Emily Jarosz married on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
The couple celebrated their wedding with a church ceremony followed by an outdoor reception at a family home in Illinois.
According to NBC Chicago and People magazine, the reception featured elegant decorations, floral arrangements and a festive atmosphere.
Wedding planner Ellie Nottoli shared details of the celebration, including a spring-inspired color scheme featuring blue and yellow.
Several professional football players attended the celebration, including Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness was also present because of his relationship with Cole’s younger sister, Frankie Kmet.
Photographs from the event showed Cole and Emily celebrating with relatives and friends.
The wedding also attracted unexpected attention online after decorations and seating arrangements referencing Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce circulated on social media.
Following their wedding, the newlyweds traveled to Saint-Tropez, France, for their honeymoon.
As of now, Cole Kmet and Emily Jarosz remain publicly identified as a married couple.
Cole Kmet’s Children: Does the Chicago Bears Star Have Kids?
Cole Kmet has no publicly confirmed children. There are no reliable reports identifying a son or daughter belonging to the Chicago Bears tight end.
Although Kmet married Emily Jarosz in June 2025, the couple has not publicly announced the birth of a child through an established news publication or official NFL source.
His public statements about family have primarily focused on his parents, siblings, grandparents and wife.
As of now, there is no verified information confirming that Cole Kmet has biological or adopted children.
Cole Kmet’s Parents: Meet Frank and Kandace Kmet
Cole Kmet was born to Frank Kmet and Kandace Kmet, who raised their four children in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Both parents have strong athletic backgrounds, with Frank having played college and professional football and Kandace having competed in basketball during high school.
The couple originally raised their family in Lake Barrington before relocating to Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Their involvement in athletics helped create a competitive environment in which Cole and his siblings developed their sporting interests.
Cole Kmet’s Father: Frank Kmet
Frank Kmet is Cole Kmet’s father, a former American football defensive lineman who played college football at Purdue University and spent time with several NFL organizations.
Frank attended Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where he was part of a state championship football team.
He subsequently joined Purdue University, playing defensive tackle for the Boilermakers between 1988 and 1991.
During his college career, Frank established himself as a talented defensive lineman and attracted attention from NFL scouts.
However, a serious leg injury during his senior season affected his professional prospects.
Despite the setback, the Buffalo Bills selected him in the fourth round of the 1992 NFL Draft.
He later joined the Chicago Bears, spending time with the franchise during the 1990s.
Although injuries prevented him from appearing in an NFL regular-season game, Frank’s experience gave him valuable knowledge of professional football.
He used that experience to guide his son through the physical and mental challenges associated with competing at higher levels.
How Frank Kmet Influenced His Son’s NFL Career
Frank Kmet played an important role in developing Cole’s understanding of football.
Having experienced the demands of professional athletics, he emphasized preparation, discipline and perseverance.
In a May 2020 interview published by the Chicago Bears, Frank discussed his son’s development and the importance of mental strength.
He recalled how Cole suffered a broken collarbone during his final college season at Notre Dame in 2019.
Despite the injury, Cole returned to the field and delivered an outstanding performance against Georgia, recording nine receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Frank explained that recovering from an injury required not only physical preparation but also confidence and determination.
When the Chicago Bears selected Cole in the 2020 NFL Draft, the moment was particularly meaningful for Frank because he had also represented the franchise earlier in his career.
Both father and son had grown up supporting the Bears, making Cole’s selection an important family achievement.
Cole Kmet’s Mother: Kandace Kmet
Kandace Kmet is Cole Kmet’s mother and another important influence on his upbringing.
Before raising her family, Kandace played basketball during her high school years.
She met Frank while they were connected to Purdue University, and the couple subsequently established their family in the Chicago area.
Kandace has consistently supported her children’s athletic activities, attending football, baseball and other sporting events whenever possible.
In October 2020, she received national attention after traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, to watch Cole play against the Carolina Panthers.
The game became particularly memorable because Cole caught his first NFL touchdown pass during the Bears’ 23-16 victory.
Kandace watched the touchdown from the stands and celebrated the achievement enthusiastically.
Speaking with the Chicago Bears after the game, she explained how important it was to witness her children’s first major accomplishments.
Her attendance was especially meaningful because COVID-19 restrictions had prevented family members from watching several earlier games in person.
Kandace also helped organize a celebration after Cole was drafted in April 2020.
Because pandemic restrictions prevented a traditional gathering, friends and supporters drove past the family’s home in a celebratory procession.
The event demonstrated the family’s strong connections to their local community.
Cole Kmet’s Siblings: Meet Casey, Frankie and Cooper Kmet
Cole Kmet has three younger siblings: two brothers named Casey and Cooper Kmet and a sister named Frankie Kmet.
Their names and family relationships are confirmed in official college athletics biographies and reporting by the Chicago Bears and CBS Chicago.
All four siblings grew up in a family with strong connections to sports, and several pursued competitive athletic careers.
Casey Kmet: Cole Kmet’s Younger Brother
Casey Kmet is Cole Kmet’s younger brother and a former college baseball player at the University of Notre Dame.
Like Cole, Casey attended Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
During high school, he established himself as a talented baseball player and earned several individual honors.
He helped Saint Viator win an Illinois state championship in 2017 and received multiple All-Conference selections.
Casey subsequently enrolled at Notre Dame, following his older brother to the university.
Although Cole participated in both football and baseball during college, Casey focused primarily on baseball.
His early college career was affected by an ankle injury, which limited his opportunities to compete.
After recovering, Casey continued his development with Notre Dame’s baseball program.
According to the university’s official biography, he also pursued graduate studies in business analytics, concentrating on sports analytics.
The brothers’ shared connection to Notre Dame represents an important part of the Kmet family’s athletic history.
Frankie Kmet: Cole Kmet’s Younger Sister
Frankie Kmet is Cole Kmet’s younger sister and one of the family’s former competitive athletes.
Like her brothers, Frankie attended Saint Viator High School.
She participated in lacrosse and competitive dancing before continuing her education at the University of Iowa.
Frankie has attracted national media attention because of her romantic relationship with Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness.
The relationship creates an interesting connection between two historic NFC North rivals, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
In January 2026, Cole jokingly discussed the family rivalry ahead of Chicago’s playoff game against Green Bay.
He suggested that he avoided speaking to his sister during Packers week, although his comments were lighthearted.
Cole also acknowledged that Frankie supports both him and Van Ness, making games between the two franchises particularly interesting for the family.
Frankie and Lukas Van Ness attended Cole’s wedding to Emily Jarosz in June 2025.
Cooper Kmet: Cole Kmet’s Youngest Brother
Cooper Kmet is the youngest of Frank and Kandace Kmet’s four children.
Born on October 6, 2006, in Barrington, Illinois, Cooper followed his older brother’s example by pursuing American football.
He attended Saint Viator High School, where he became the team’s starting quarterback.
During his senior season, Cooper threw for more than 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.
He also contributed as a runner, recording more than 300 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
His performances earned him All-Area and All-Conference recognition.
In a September 2024 interview with CBS Chicago, Cooper discussed how training alongside Cole helped improve his quarterback skills.
He explained that his older brother’s speed and athleticism made offseason throwing sessions particularly challenging.
Cooper also described the competitive atmosphere within the Kmet household, where the siblings frequently challenged one another during games and sporting activities.
After completing high school, Cooper joined Illinois State University’s football program.
According to the university’s official 2026 roster, he is listed as a quarterback for the Redbirds.
His progression into college football adds another chapter to the family’s sporting tradition.
Cole Kmet’s Uncle: Former NFL Player Jeff Zgonina
Another notable member of Cole Kmet’s family is his maternal uncle, Jeff Zgonina, a former NFL defensive lineman.
Jeff is the brother of Kandace Kmet and played college football at Purdue University.
He subsequently enjoyed a professional football career spanning 17 NFL seasons.
During his career, Zgonina played for several franchises, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans.
He was a member of the St. Louis Rams team that won Super Bowl XXXIV following the 1999 season.
His lengthy career provided another example of professional athletic achievement within the Kmet family.
Alongside Cole’s father, Frank, Jeff helped establish a family legacy closely connected to American football.
Cole Kmet’s Grandfather: Remembering Dave Kmet
David William “Dave” Kmet was Cole Kmet’s paternal grandfather and an important figure in his family’s sporting history.
Dave worked as a physical education teacher and coach at Niles North High School in Illinois for approximately 30 years.
He also coached baseball and soccer, encouraging young athletes to develop their abilities.
A lifelong Chicago Bears supporter, Dave was especially proud when his grandson was selected by the franchise in April 2020.
He had previously watched his son Frank pursue professional football with the Bears during the 1990s.
Dave lived long enough to see Cole make his NFL debut, catch his first professional pass and score his first touchdown.
He died in November 2020 at the age of 80.
Following his passing, the Chicago Bears published a tribute highlighting his dedication to family, education and athletics.
His influence remains an important part of the Kmet family’s sporting legacy.
How Cole Kmet’s Family Influenced His NFL Career
Cole Kmet’s journey to the NFL reflects the influence of a family with extensive sporting experience.
His father introduced him to the challenges of competitive football, while his mother encouraged him to pursue his ambitions and supported his athletic activities.
Growing up with three younger siblings also helped establish a competitive household where sports were an important part of everyday life.
At Saint Viator High School, Cole became one of Illinois’ leading football prospects while also establishing himself as a talented baseball player.
He subsequently joined the University of Notre Dame in 2017, participating in both football and baseball.
During the 2019 football season, Kmet recorded 43 receptions for 515 yards and six touchdowns despite missing time because of a collarbone injury.
His performances helped establish him as one of the most highly regarded tight end prospects entering the 2020 NFL Draft.
On April 24, 2020, the Chicago Bears selected Kmet with the 43rd overall pick in the second round.
The selection was especially significant because Cole had grown up supporting the Bears, just like his father and grandfather.
After joining Chicago, he gradually developed into an important contributor to the team’s offense.
In July 2023, Kmet signed a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $50 million, reflecting the franchise’s confidence in his development.
He continued representing the Bears through subsequent seasons, including Chicago’s return to the playoffs following the 2025 regular season.
Throughout his professional career, Cole has remained connected to his parents, siblings and extended family, who have shared many of his important football milestones.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cole Kmet’s Family
Who is Cole Kmet’s wife?
Cole Kmet’s wife is Emily Jarosz. The couple were longtime partners before marrying on June 7, 2025, in Illinois.
Does Cole Kmet have a girlfriend?
Cole Kmet is married to his longtime girlfriend, Emily Jarosz. They announced their engagement in July 2024 and celebrated their wedding in June 2025.
Does Cole Kmet have children?
As of now, Cole Kmet has no publicly confirmed children, and he has not announced becoming a father.
Who are Cole Kmet’s parents?
Cole Kmet’s parents are Frank Kmet and Kandace Kmet. His father is a former NFL defensive lineman, while his mother played basketball during high school.
How many siblings does Cole Kmet have?
Cole Kmet has three younger siblings: Casey Kmet, Frankie Kmet and Cooper Kmet.
Who is Cole Kmet’s brother?
Cole Kmet has two younger brothers. Casey Kmet played college baseball at Notre Dame, while Cooper Kmet is a quarterback at Illinois State University.
Who is Cole Kmet’s sister?
Cole Kmet’s younger sister is Frankie Kmet, a former lacrosse player and competitive dancer who has been romantically linked to Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness.
Did Cole Kmet’s father play in the NFL?
Yes. Frank Kmet was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 1992 NFL Draft and later spent time with the Chicago Bears. However, injuries prevented him from appearing in a regular-season NFL game.
Is Cole Kmet related to Jeff Zgonina?
Yes. Former NFL defensive lineman Jeff Zgonina is Cole Kmet’s maternal uncle and the brother of his mother, Kandace Kmet.
Where is Cole Kmet’s family from?
Cole Kmet’s family is from the Chicago metropolitan area in Illinois. He was born in Lake Barrington and attended Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights.
When did Cole Kmet get married?
Cole Kmet married Emily Jarosz on Saturday, June 7, 2025, following their engagement in July 2024.
Valentim Tereshkova is a sports journalist and NFL analyst specializing in team dynamics, scheme breakdowns, and league-wide trends. Covering everything from offseason roster construction and Draft developments to Sunday game plans and Super Bowl contenders, he delivers clear, sharp commentary on the gridiron. Valentim combines stat-driven analysis with a passion for football storytelling to give readers an expert look into the AFC and NFC.
