Last Updated on October 21, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
Jordan van den Berg is a South African professional American football player who plays as a defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 12, 2002, in Johannesburg, South Africa, he played college football at Iowa Western Community College, Penn State University and Georgia Tech before being selected in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Beyond his football career, Jordan van den Berg’s family has played an important role in his personal and professional development. His fiancée is Ilanae Du Plessis, his parents are Michael van den Berg and Lisa Hendry, and his stepfather is John Hendry. He also has four younger brothers named Michael, Timothy, Matthew and George. His family has a remarkable sporting heritage, with grandparents who achieved success in bodybuilding and swimming.
Jordan van den Berg’s Girlfriend: Who Is Ilanae Du Plessis?
Jordan van den Berg is engaged to Ilanae Du Plessis, a website designer who has supported his football career and business activities.
Their relationship became publicly documented through reporting about Van den Berg’s entrepreneurial activities while attending Georgia Tech.
In November 2025, the university published a feature about his ownership of Always Fresh Laundromat, a business located in the Atlanta area.
The article identified Ilanae as his girlfriend and explained that she helped with the company’s visual branding and marketing efforts.
As a website designer, Ilanae created several potential logos for the laundromat, giving the business an opportunity to develop a recognizable identity.
She also appeared alongside Jordan and two employees in a photograph published by Georgia Tech Athletics.
The couple’s relationship was mentioned again during a television interview conducted by WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News in April 2026.
This time, the station identified Ilanae as Jordan van den Berg’s fiancée, confirming that their relationship had progressed to an engagement.
Who Is Ilanae Du Plessis?
Ilanae Du Plessis is a website designer and the publicly identified fiancée of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg.
She became known to football fans through her involvement in Jordan’s business activities while he was playing college football at Georgia Tech.
According to the university’s November 2025 report, Ilanae helped design logos for Always Fresh Laundromat, a company Jordan purchased using money accumulated through his college athletic opportunities.
She also participated in a WSB-TV interview in April 2026, discussing her initial reaction to Jordan’s decision to become a business owner.
Ilanae acknowledged that buying the laundromat initially seemed like a major undertaking but later recognized the positive impact the investment could have on the community.
Her participation in the business illustrates a relationship involving shared interests beyond professional sports.
However, additional details about her childhood, family and educational background have not been extensively documented in reliable public sources.
Are Jordan van den Berg and Ilanae Du Plessis Married?
As of now, the latest reliable reporting identifies Ilanae Du Plessis as Jordan van den Berg’s fiancée.
WSB-TV confirmed their engagement in April 2026, shortly before the NFL Draft.
However, no independently verified wedding announcement or marriage date has been established in the sources reviewed.
Therefore, Ilanae should be identified as his fiancée rather than his wife unless new information confirms that they have married.
Jordan van den Berg’s Children: Does He Have Any Kids?
As of now, there is no verified public information confirming that Jordan van den Berg has children.
Although his engagement to Ilanae Du Plessis is publicly documented, neither his official NFL biographies nor the available interviews confirm that he has welcomed a son or daughter.
Van den Berg has, however, discussed his ambitions for his future family.
In a November 2025 Georgia Tech interview, he explained that he wanted to use his college football earnings to build financial security for himself and the family he hopes to establish.
His decision to invest in a laundromat reflected his desire to develop sources of income beyond football.
During a separate July 2026 interview with the Chicago Bears, he spoke about wanting future children and grandchildren to admire his achievements in the same way he admires his grandparents.
These comments demonstrate his long-term family ambitions, but they do not establish that he currently has children.
Jordan van den Berg’s Parents: Meet Michael van den Berg and Lisa Hendry
Jordan van den Berg was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Michael van den Berg and Lisa Hendry.
Their names are confirmed in his official Penn State University football biography.
His stepfather, John Hendry, also played an important role in his upbringing, particularly when the family relocated from South Africa to the United States.
According to Georgia Tech Athletics, Jordan grew up in a household with four younger brothers before moving to the Atlanta metropolitan area at approximately ten years old.
Jordan van den Berg’s Father: Michael van den Berg
Michael van den Berg is Jordan van den Berg’s biological father.
His identity is documented in the player’s official Penn State University biography and a detailed Georgia Tech feature published in October 2024.
Jordan spent his early childhood in Johannesburg, where he developed an interest in sports such as rugby and cricket.
When the family decided to relocate to the United States, Jordan initially moved with his mother, stepfather and brothers.
According to Georgia Tech, Michael followed them to the United States approximately two years later.
This migration was an important turning point in Jordan’s childhood because it introduced him to new educational opportunities and American sporting culture.
Although Michael’s relationship to Jordan is publicly confirmed, further verified information about his professional background remains limited.
Jordan van den Berg’s Mother: Lisa Hendry
Lisa Hendry is Jordan van den Berg’s mother and one of the central figures in his upbringing.
According to reporting published by Georgia Tech Athletics in October 2024, Lisa worked as a photographer.
She and her husband, John Hendry, made the decision to relocate the family from Johannesburg to Lilburn, Georgia, in search of improved economic and educational opportunities.
Jordan later recalled that he and his younger brothers were excited about the prospect of moving to America.
Having grown up watching American movies, the children associated the United States with famous attractions, sporting opportunities and new experiences.
The move was nevertheless a major adjustment for the family.
Jordan had to adapt to a different culture, school environment and range of available sports.
His mother and stepfather also had concerns when he expressed an interest in playing American football.
Because he had previously participated in rugby, Jordan believed he could adapt naturally to football.
However, his parents were concerned about concussions and initially resisted his requests to join a team.
After several years of persuasion, they eventually allowed him to begin playing football in tenth grade.
The decision helped set him on the path toward a professional NFL career.
Jordan van den Berg’s Stepfather: John Hendry
John Hendry is Jordan van den Berg’s stepfather and an important influence in his personal development.
According to Georgia Tech Athletics, John worked in engineering and had secured employment in the United States before the family relocated from South Africa.
He helped establish the household in Lilburn, Georgia, where Jordan attended school and eventually began playing American football.
John also became involved in Jordan’s business interests during his college years.
In November 2025, Georgia Tech reported that a business partner of John had experience operating laundromats and helped introduce Jordan to an investment opportunity.
Jordan and John researched the business together, examining its financial performance and potential for future growth.
Their collaboration helped Jordan purchase Always Fresh Laundromat in the Atlanta area.
John continued helping with the business after the acquisition, according to the university’s report.
During an April 2026 WSB-TV interview, Jordan discussed how valuable it had been to exchange business ideas with his father figure.
Their relationship demonstrates that John’s influence extended beyond childhood into Jordan’s adult life as a professional athlete and entrepreneur.
Jordan van den Berg’s Siblings: Meet His Four Brothers
Jordan van den Berg has four younger brothers named Michael, Timothy, Matthew and George van den Berg.
Their names are confirmed in his official Penn State University player biography.
Georgia Tech also reported that Jordan is the oldest of five boys, confirming his position within the family.
The brothers spent part of their childhood together in Johannesburg before relocating to Georgia.
Michael van den Berg: Jordan’s Brother
Michael van den Berg is one of Jordan’s four younger brothers.
He is listed in the defensive lineman’s official Penn State football biography.
Michael grew up in a family that experienced a major international move during Jordan’s childhood.
However, reliable public information about his educational background, professional career and personal life remains limited.
Timothy van den Berg: Jordan’s Brother
Timothy van den Berg is another younger brother of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg.
His name appears alongside his siblings in Jordan’s official Penn State University biography.
Timothy was part of the family that relocated from South Africa to the United States.
As of now, further information about his professional activities and personal life has not been extensively documented.
Matthew van den Berg: Jordan’s Brother
Matthew van den Berg is Jordan’s third publicly identified younger brother.
He is included in the family information provided by Penn State Athletics.
Like his brothers, Matthew grew up within a household connected to South African sporting traditions.
However, the available sources do not provide enough information to establish his occupation or other personal details.
George van den Berg: Jordan’s Brother
George van den Berg is Jordan’s fourth publicly identified younger brother.
His identity is also confirmed by the Penn State football biography.
George belongs to the same family that moved from Johannesburg to the Atlanta area during Jordan’s childhood.
Although Jordan has discussed growing up alongside his brothers, George has maintained a relatively private public profile.
As of now, no additional siblings have been identified in his official university biographies.
Jordan van den Berg’s Grandparents: A Family of Accomplished Athletes
One of the most interesting aspects of Jordan van den Berg’s family is his grandparents’ sporting achievements.
His grandfather, Francois van den Berg, was a competitive bodybuilder, while his grandmother, Joan Rocci, was an accomplished South African swimmer.
Their athletic careers helped inspire Jordan’s own competitive ambitions.
Francois van den Berg: Jordan’s Bodybuilding Grandfather
Francois van den Berg is Jordan van den Berg’s grandfather and a former competitive bodybuilder.
According to Georgia Tech Athletics, Francois placed sixth in the medium-height division of the 1967 Mr. Universe bodybuilding competition.
The competition was particularly notable because Arnold Schwarzenegger won the overall title that year.
Francois’s achievements established an impressive family connection to competitive strength sports.
Jordan has acknowledged that his grandfather’s success helped shape his understanding of dedication and athletic excellence.
During a July 2026 Chicago Bears interview, he also revealed that his grandfather taught him to play chess.
Jordan recalled that he initially struggled to beat his grandfather but eventually improved enough to defeat him as he grew older.
These experiences show that Francois influenced his grandson through both athletic achievement and personal mentorship.
Joan Rocci: Jordan’s Record-Breaking Grandmother
Joan Rocci is Jordan van den Berg’s grandmother and a former competitive swimmer.
Her sporting achievements are documented by Penn State University and Georgia Tech Athletics.
According to Georgia Tech, Joan represented South Africa in swimming at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
She also held multiple South African national swimming records.
Her accomplishments provided another example of sporting excellence within Jordan’s family.
In his Chicago Bears interview, Jordan explained that seeing his grandparents’ achievements encouraged him to work hard and establish a legacy that future generations of his family could admire.
How Jordan van den Berg’s Family Influenced His NFL Career
Jordan van den Berg’s journey to the NFL began in Johannesburg, South Africa, where rugby and cricket were among his favorite sports.
At approximately ten years old, he moved to the United States with his mother, stepfather and younger brothers.
The family settled in Lilburn, Georgia, where Jordan eventually attended Providence Christian Academy.
Although he was interested in American football, his parents initially worried about the sport’s physical nature.
After receiving permission to participate during tenth grade, he quickly established himself as a talented high school athlete.
During his senior season, he recorded 157 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Despite those achievements, he received limited attention from major college football programs.
He eventually joined Iowa Western Community College as a walk-on, converting from linebacker to defensive line.
His performances attracted the attention of Penn State University, where he played from 2021 through 2023.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications, he transferred to Georgia Tech.
The move brought him closer to the Atlanta area, where his family had settled after leaving South Africa.
At Georgia Tech, Jordan emerged as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading defensive tackles.
He earned second-team All-ACC recognition in 2024 before receiving first-team honors in 2025.
He also completed a master’s degree in international affairs, science and technology in December 2025.
In April 2026, the Chicago Bears selected him with the 213th overall pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
His selection completed a remarkable journey from South African rugby fields to professional American football.
Throughout the process, his family’s athletic background, international migration and emphasis on education played important roles in his development.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jordan van den Berg’s Family
Who is Jordan van den Berg’s girlfriend?
Jordan van den Berg’s publicly identified partner is Ilanae Du Plessis, a website designer who was confirmed as his fiancée in April 2026.
Is Jordan van den Berg married?
As of now, the latest reliable reporting identifies Jordan van den Berg as engaged to Ilanae Du Plessis. No independently verified wedding announcement has been established.
Does Jordan van den Berg have children?
As of now, there is no verified public information confirming that Jordan van den Berg has children.
Who is Jordan van den Berg’s father?
His biological father is Michael van den Berg, according to his official Penn State University football biography.
Who is Jordan van den Berg’s mother?
His mother is Lisa Hendry, a photographer who helped relocate the family from Johannesburg, South Africa, to the Atlanta area.
Who is Jordan van den Berg’s stepfather?
His stepfather is John Hendry, an engineer who helped raise Jordan and later supported his business ventures.
How many siblings does Jordan van den Berg have?
Jordan van den Berg has four younger brothers named Michael, Timothy, Matthew and George.
Who are Jordan van den Berg’s grandparents?
His grandparents include Francois van den Berg, a former competitive bodybuilder, and Joan Rocci, a former South African record-holding swimmer.
Is Jordan van den Berg South African?
Yes. Jordan van den Berg was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, before moving to the United States with his family at approximately ten years old.
Which NFL team does Jordan van den Berg play for?
As of now, Jordan van den Berg plays as a defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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.
