J.K. Dobbins Family: Girlfriend, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on October 13, 2026 by Mariah Miranda

J.K. Dobbins is an American professional football running back who plays for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL). Born J’Kaylin Dobbins on December 17, 1998, in Houston, Texas, he developed into one of the most talented running backs in college football before beginning his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. Beyond football, Dobbins has a compelling family story involving the influence of his hardworking mother, the loss of his father during adolescence and his responsibilities as an older brother and father.

The Denver Broncos running back is the son of Mya Grounds and the late Lawrence Dobbins. He has two younger brothers and is also a father to at least one son, whom he publicly accompanied to the 2025 NFL Honors ceremony. However, Dobbins has kept his romantic relationships relatively private, and there is no widely verified public confirmation of a wife or current girlfriend. His family background has significantly influenced his determination, discipline and approach to professional football.

J.K. Dobbins’ Girlfriend: Is He Married or Dating Anyone?

J.K. Dobbins has not publicly confirmed a wife or current girlfriend. Unlike many professional football players who frequently share details of their romantic relationships on social media, the Denver Broncos running back has generally maintained privacy surrounding his dating life.

Although Dobbins is active on social media and occasionally shares information about his football career, training and personal interests, he has not consistently disclosed the identity of a romantic partner.

There are also no widely verified reports establishing that the former Ohio State star has married.

His decision to keep romantic relationships away from public attention means that fans have limited reliable information about his dating history.

It is important to distinguish between having no publicly identified partner and being single. Dobbins could be involved in a private relationship, but without confirmation from the player or credible reporting, identifying someone as his girlfriend would be speculative.

While he has kept his romantic life private, Dobbins has publicly embraced fatherhood, as demonstrated by his appearance alongside his young son at the 2025 NFL Honors ceremony.

As of now, J.K. Dobbins has no publicly confirmed wife or current girlfriend.

J.K. Dobbins’ Children: Does He Have Kids?

Yes, J.K. Dobbins has at least one publicly confirmed child, a son. The NFL running back attracted attention when he attended the 2025 NFL Honors ceremony in New Orleans with his young boy.

J.K. Dobbins’ Son

On February 6, 2025, J.K. Dobbins appeared at the NFL Honors red carpet accompanied by his son, with both wearing matching red-and-white suits.

Their coordinated outfits became one of the memorable family moments of the evening.

The NFL shared footage of the father and son on its official social media accounts, while The Sporting News highlighted their appearance during its coverage of the awards ceremony.

At the time, Dobbins was representing the Los Angeles Chargers and was a finalist for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award following his impressive return from serious injuries.

The event offered fans a rare glimpse into his life as a father. While Dobbins is frequently photographed competing on the football field, appearing alongside his child demonstrated another important aspect of his identity.

However, the child’s full name, exact date of birth and the identity of his mother have not been reliably established in widely accessible public reporting.

There is also insufficient verified information to confirm whether Dobbins has additional children.

For that reason, the most accurate description of his family is that he has at least one publicly confirmed son.

J.K. Dobbins’ Parents: Meet Lawrence Dobbins and Mya Grounds

J.K. Dobbins was born to Lawrence Dobbins and Mya Grounds, who were high school sweethearts in Texas. Although his parents never married, both played important roles in his early development.

His father introduced him to the competitive world of football, while his mother demonstrated the importance of perseverance, education and responsibility.

J.K. Dobbins’ Father: Lawrence Dobbins

Lawrence Dobbins was J.K. Dobbins’ father and a talented former high school football player from La Grange, Texas.

During his youth, Lawrence was one of the standout athletes at La Grange High School. He excelled as a running back and sprinter, helping his school’s football team reach the state semifinals.

His exceptional speed also earned him recognition in track and field. Lawrence became a Texas Class 3A state champion in the 100-meter dash and received an opportunity to compete at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

While attending Lincoln University, he participated in track and field, including the 4×100-meter relay.

However, football remained his primary passion. After the birth of his son, Lawrence returned to Texas and enrolled at Blinn College, where he attempted to continue his football career.

Unfortunately, he struggled with limited playing opportunities and eventually left the football program.

According to a detailed 2021 Baltimore Ravens profile, Lawrence subsequently experienced personal difficulties that affected his family relationships and led to periods of incarceration.

Despite those challenges, J.K. maintained a close emotional connection with his father.

During his early childhood, the two frequently played football, rode bicycles and participated in competitive activities together.

Lawrence encouraged his son to become a better athlete and challenged him to work hard rather than rely solely on natural talent.

Tragically, Lawrence Dobbins died on February 22, 2014, at the age of 33, after suffering a stroke while incarcerated in Texas.

J.K. was only 15 years old when his father passed away.

The loss had a profound effect on the young football player. He later explained that the experience forced him to mature quickly and strengthened his determination to succeed.

Rather than abandoning his ambitions, Dobbins became increasingly committed to his education, training and development as an athlete.

One of the most recognizable ways he honors Lawrence is through his jersey number.

J.K. Dobbins wears No. 27 in memory of his father, who wore the same number during his high school football career.

The Baltimore Ravens confirmed the significance of the number in a May 2020 interview with Dobbins.

For the running back, No. 27 represents much more than an athletic identity. It is a connection to the father whose influence helped shape his love for football.

J.K. Dobbins’ Mother: Mya Grounds

Mya Grounds is J.K. Dobbins’ mother and one of the most influential people in his life.

She was approximately 18 years old when she gave birth to J.K. in December 1998.

Before becoming a mother, Mya was an athlete who participated in basketball and volleyball during high school. Although she had ambitions of continuing her education and athletic development, motherhood significantly changed her plans.

Nevertheless, she remained determined to complete her studies and establish a professional career.

While raising J.K., Mya attended the University of Houston, where she studied finance.

Balancing motherhood, education and employment required considerable dedication.

According to the Baltimore Ravens’ 2021 profile, Mya worked night shifts at a community center supporting people with mental health and developmental disabilities. She continued this work for approximately eight years while pursuing her education.

She eventually completed her degree and later worked as an accountant for the Internal Revenue Service.

Her determination became an important example for her son.

In interviews, Dobbins has repeatedly praised his mother for refusing to make excuses when facing financial and personal difficulties.

Mya also helped maintain J.K.’s relationship with his father’s extended family, even after she and Lawrence separated.

Despite long commutes and demanding work schedules, she made arrangements for her son to remain connected to La Grange and continue attending school and football activities.

Following Lawrence’s death in 2014, Mya became an even more important source of emotional support.

She encouraged J.K. to channel his grief into positive goals and focus on becoming a successful student and athlete.

Her dedication continued throughout his college football career at Ohio State University.

When Dobbins entered the NFL in 2020, Mya expressed pride in the determination and maturity he had developed.

She has remained one of his most enthusiastic supporters. In March 2026, she spoke with The Denver Gazette about her son’s decision to re-sign with the Denver Broncos, expressing satisfaction that he had found a team where he wanted to establish a lasting career.

J.K. Dobbins’ Siblings: Meet His Two Younger Brothers

J.K. Dobbins has two younger brothers. Their existence was confirmed by Dobbins himself in a 2016 interview with Eleven Warriors and subsequently discussed in other reports about his childhood.

As the eldest brother, J.K. developed a strong sense of responsibility toward his younger siblings, particularly after their family’s experiences with adversity.

Kance – J.K. Dobbins’ Younger Brother

One of J.K. Dobbins’ younger brothers has been identified in secondary biographical reports as Kance.

Like J.K., Kance grew up within the family environment supported by their mother, Mya Grounds.

Although his older brother has achieved national recognition through professional football, Kance has generally remained outside the media spotlight.

There is limited reliable public information about his age, education, career or personal relationships.

Consequently, specific details about his private life should not be presented as established facts without additional verification.

J.K. Dobbins’ Other Younger Brother

J.K. Dobbins also has another younger brother whose name has not been consistently identified in reliable, widely accessible reporting.

During an interview published by Eleven Warriors in March 2016, Dobbins explained that the death of his father had changed his perspective on life and forced him to mature.

He specifically mentioned having two younger brothers, demonstrating the importance of his position as the eldest sibling.

His mother has also spoken about how J.K. became increasingly determined to set a positive example for his younger siblings following Lawrence’s death.

Although the brothers maintain relatively private personal lives, they are an important part of the family background that influenced Dobbins’ development.

J.K. Dobbins’ Family Background and Childhood

J.K. Dobbins grew up in La Grange, Texas, a small community located between Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

Football was central to his childhood because of his father’s accomplishments as a high school running back.

Even as a young boy, Dobbins demonstrated exceptional athletic ability and competitiveness.

He played youth football before becoming a standout at La Grange High School, the same school where Lawrence had previously established his athletic reputation.

During his sophomore season, Dobbins rushed for 2,243 yards and scored 37 touchdowns.

He followed that performance with 2,740 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior, attracting scholarship offers from several major college football programs.

Although an ankle injury limited his senior season, he remained one of the country’s highly regarded running back prospects.

In 2017, Dobbins joined Ohio State University, where he immediately established himself as an important offensive player.

He became one of the most productive running backs in Buckeyes history, accumulating 4,459 career rushing yards across three seasons.

His outstanding 2019 season included 2,003 rushing yards, making him the first Ohio State player to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season.

The Baltimore Ravens selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 55th overall pick.

After beginning his professional career in Baltimore, Dobbins experienced several serious injuries that interrupted his development.

He joined the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, where he returned to form and rushed for 905 yards.

In June 2025, he signed with the Denver Broncos and became an important contributor to their rushing offense.

Following his first season with Denver, Dobbins signed a two-year contract extension in March 2026.

Throughout these milestones, he has continued speaking about the importance of his mother’s example, his father’s memory and the responsibility of representing his family.

Frequently Asked Questions About J.K. Dobbins’ Family

Who is J.K. Dobbins’ girlfriend?

J.K. Dobbins has not publicly confirmed the identity of a current girlfriend. He keeps his romantic relationships relatively private, and there is insufficient verified information to identify a partner.

Is J.K. Dobbins married?

There is no widely verified public confirmation that J.K. Dobbins is married. He has not publicly identified a wife.

Does J.K. Dobbins have children?

Yes. J.K. Dobbins has at least one publicly confirmed son, whom he accompanied to the NFL Honors ceremony in February 2025. The child’s name and exact birth date have not been reliably established in major public reporting.

Who are J.K. Dobbins’ parents?

J.K. Dobbins’ parents are Lawrence Dobbins and Mya Grounds. His father was a talented high school football player who died in February 2014, while his mother studied finance and worked to support her family.

What happened to J.K. Dobbins’ father?

J.K. Dobbins’ father, Lawrence Dobbins, died on February 22, 2014, at age 33 after suffering a stroke while incarcerated in Texas. J.K. was 15 years old at the time.

How many siblings does J.K. Dobbins have?

J.K. Dobbins has two younger brothers. One has been identified in secondary reports as Kance, while the other brother’s name is not reliably established in widely available public sources.

Who is J.K. Dobbins’ mother?

J.K. Dobbins’ mother is Mya Grounds. She earned a finance degree from the University of Houston and has worked as an accountant. She played an important role in supporting his education and football ambitions.

Why does J.K. Dobbins wear number 27?

J.K. Dobbins wears No. 27 to honor his late father, Lawrence Dobbins, who wore the same number during his high school football career in Texas.

What NFL team does J.K. Dobbins play for?

J.K. Dobbins plays running back for the Denver Broncos. He joined the organization in June 2025 and signed a two-year contract extension in March 2026.