Last Updated on October 21, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
T. J. Edwards is an American professional football player who plays as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). Born on August 12, 1996, in Lake Villa, Illinois, Edwards played college football at the University of Wisconsin before beginning his professional career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019.
Beyond his successful NFL career, T. J. Edwards’ family has played an important role in his personal development. He is married to Kelly Jo Vander Loop Edwards, while his parents are Vince and Cathy Edwards. Growing up in a family of passionate Chicago Bears supporters, Edwards developed a lifelong connection to the franchise he eventually joined in 2023. Here is everything publicly known about his wife, children, parents and siblings.
T. J. Edwards’ Wife: Who Is Kelly Jo Vander Loop?
T. J. Edwards is married to Kelly Jo Vander Loop Edwards, a Wisconsin native who has worked in real estate, recruitment and business administration.
Kelly Jo was born on October 12, 1994, in Wisconsin and grew up in Little Chute, a community near Green Bay.
According to reporting published by Earn the Necklace in March 2023, her parents are Paul Vander Loop and Darlene Vander Loop.
She attended Little Chute High School before pursuing higher education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In 2017, Kelly graduated from Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation psychology.
During her professional career, she worked in recruitment, account management and real estate.
She has also participated in community service activities, including volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and mentoring children through educational programs.
How Did T. J. Edwards Meet His Wife?
T. J. Edwards and Kelly Jo Vander Loop met in 2016 while both were living in Madison, Wisconsin.
According to their wedding story, their first meeting took place at Wando’s Bar, where Kelly was working as a bartender.
Edwards was attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and playing linebacker for the Wisconsin Badgers.
The two began spending time together after their initial encounter and eventually developed a romantic relationship.
They officially became a couple in July 2017.
During Edwards’ college football career, Kelly regularly attended his games, sometimes arranging her work schedule so she could support him from the stands.
Their relationship continued even after their professional responsibilities took them to different cities.
Following her university graduation, Kelly moved to Chicago for work, while Edwards remained in Madison to finish his college football career.
After Edwards joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019, the couple maintained a long-distance relationship before moving in together in Philadelphia in October 2020.
When Did T. J. Edwards Propose to Kelly Jo?
T. J. Edwards proposed to Kelly Jo Vander Loop on January 9, 2022.
The engagement came after approximately four and a half years of dating.
By that time, Edwards had established himself as an important player for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kelly had supported him through his college years, his transition into professional football and the challenges associated with maintaining a relationship while living in different cities.
The couple subsequently began planning their wedding in Mexico.
T. J. Edwards and Kelly Jo’s Wedding
T. J. Edwards and Kelly Jo Vander Loop married on February 25, 2023, in Los Cabos, Mexico.
According to their wedding information and contemporary reporting, the ceremony took place at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, a luxury resort in Cabo San Lucas.
The destination wedding celebrated a relationship that began during their university years in Wisconsin.
The ceremony also occurred during an important period in Edwards’ professional career.
Just weeks before his wedding, Edwards had played for the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Shortly after returning from his honeymoon, he entered NFL free agency and signed with his hometown team, the Chicago Bears.
The transition represented a particularly memorable beginning to the couple’s married life.
T. J. Edwards’ Children: Does He Have Any Kids?
As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that T. J. Edwards and his wife Kelly Jo have children.
The Chicago Bears linebacker’s official biography and the available interviews reviewed for this article do not identify any sons or daughters.
Although Edwards is married, he has generally kept details about his family planning and private household life away from public attention.
The couple previously shared their home with a dog named Harlow, whom Edwards gave Kelly as a birthday surprise after they moved to Philadelphia.
However, owning a pet should not be confused with confirmation that the couple has children.
Until Edwards or another reliable source confirms otherwise, his parental status remains unverified.
T. J. Edwards’ Parents: Meet Vince and Cathy Edwards
T. J. Edwards was raised in Lake Villa, Illinois, by his parents, Vince Edwards and Cathy Edwards.
Both parents grew up in the Chicago metropolitan area and developed strong connections to the Chicago Bears.
According to a detailed family feature published by the Chicago Bears on March 29, 2023, Vince grew up on Chicago’s South Side, while Cathy was raised in the western suburb of Des Plaines.
Their shared enthusiasm for football became an important part of their household after settling in Lake Villa.
T. J. Edwards’ Father: Vince Edwards
Vince Edwards is the father of Chicago Bears linebacker T. J. Edwards.
He grew up on Chicago’s South Side in a family that supported the Bears.
According to the team’s official feature, Vince developed his love for the franchise through his mother and sister, who were passionate supporters.
During his childhood, he admired legendary Bears players such as Walter Payton and Wilber Marshall.
He also remembers the franchise’s historic 1985 season, when Chicago won Super Bowl XX.
After establishing his own family, Vince continued sharing those football traditions with his son.
He regularly showed T. J. highlights of famous Bears defenders, including Mike Singletary, Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher.
These experiences helped Edwards develop an appreciation for the linebacker position long before he entered professional football.
How Vince Edwards Inspired His Son’s Football Career
Vince Edwards played an important role in introducing T. J. to the Chicago Bears and the team’s defensive history.
During his childhood, T. J. frequently watched games with his father and tried to imitate his favorite players.
One particularly meaningful player was Brian Urlacher, the Hall of Fame linebacker who spent his entire NFL career with Chicago.
Photographs published by the Bears show T. J. and his father wearing Urlacher jerseys together.
Vince also supported his son’s development during high school and college football.
When Edwards began attracting interest from major universities, Vince and Cathy were proud of the opportunities he had earned.
However, the family experienced disappointment when Edwards was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Despite the setback, Vince continued supporting his son’s ambition to become a professional linebacker.
His faith was eventually rewarded when Edwards signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and earned a starting role.
T. J. Edwards’ Mother: Cathy Edwards
Cathy Edwards is T. J. Edwards’ mother and another influential figure in his upbringing.
She grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois, in a large family of Chicago Bears supporters.
According to the Bears’ March 2023 feature, Cathy comes from a family of nine children.
Her parents regularly organized gatherings during football season, bringing relatives together to watch Chicago games.
When Cathy established her own household with Vince, she continued the family tradition.
Every Sunday during football season, the Edwards family hosted gatherings for neighbors, friends and their children.
Cathy prepared food while the adults watched football and the younger children played games.
The gatherings became affectionately known as Club Edwards among the children.
These experiences created lasting memories and helped strengthen T. J.’s connection to the Bears.
How Cathy Edwards Supported Her Son’s Career
Cathy supported her son’s athletic development throughout his childhood.
According to the Chicago Bears, she regularly purchased football equipment and cleats for him before the beginning of each season.
One childhood story demonstrates the family’s values.
When T. J. was approximately ten years old, Cathy invited him to select new football cleats.
His childhood best friend, Andrew Spencer, was visiting at the time.
Rather than focusing only on his own equipment, Edwards immediately offered to let Andrew choose a pair of cleats as well.
Andrew later recalled the moment as an example of his friend’s generosity and consideration for others.
Cathy continued supporting T. J. during high school, college and his early professional career.
After he signed with the Chicago Bears in March 2023, she expressed her excitement at seeing her son represent the team their family had supported for generations.
In the Bears’ official interview, Cathy explained that the achievement was especially emotional because she understood how many sacrifices T. J. had made to reach the NFL.
How T. J. Edwards’ Parents Reacted to His Chicago Bears Signing
One of the most memorable moments in the Edwards family’s story occurred in March 2023.
After spending four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, T. J. Edwards signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears.
At the time, Vince and Cathy were living in Florida.
When Edwards called to announce his decision, both parents were overwhelmed with emotion.
According to the Chicago Bears, Cathy was initially shocked and repeatedly expressed her disbelief that her son would be returning to his childhood team.
For Vince, the signing represented the fulfillment of a dream that began when he introduced his son to Bears football years earlier.
Cathy also received congratulatory messages from extended family members who remembered how passionately her late father had supported the Bears.
The announcement created a meaningful connection between three generations of football supporters.
T. J. Edwards’ Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
As of now, the names and number of T. J. Edwards’ siblings have not been reliably established in his official Chicago Bears and Wisconsin football biographies.
Although Edwards comes from a large extended family, the available reporting does not provide a confirmed list of his brothers or sisters.
It is important to distinguish his immediate siblings from his extended relatives.
For example, his mother Cathy explained that she grew up in a family of nine children, meaning T. J. has several maternal aunts and uncles.
However, that information does not establish how many siblings Edwards himself has.
Is Andrew Spencer T. J. Edwards’ Brother?
Andrew Spencer is T. J. Edwards’ childhood best friend, not a publicly identified biological brother.
Their friendship is extensively documented in the Chicago Bears’ March 2023 family feature.
Andrew grew up near Edwards in Lake Villa, Illinois, and the two spent much of their childhood playing sports together.
They regularly watched Chicago Bears games and imitated professional football players during backyard competitions.
Andrew was approximately one year older than T. J., but the two often competed in the same age groups because Edwards frequently played against older athletes.
They also attended Lakes Community High School and remained close as they pursued their respective college football careers.
Andrew later played at Winona State University, while Edwards attended Wisconsin.
In his interview with the Chicago Bears, Andrew described the close relationship they developed throughout childhood and explained that he sometimes looked up to Edwards despite being older.
Their friendship remains an important part of the linebacker’s personal story.
How T. J. Edwards’ Family Influenced His NFL Career
T. J. Edwards’ journey to professional football began in Lake Villa, Illinois, where he attended Lakes Community High School.
Growing up in a household that celebrated Chicago Bears football every Sunday, Edwards developed an early ambition to become an NFL player.
During high school, he excelled as a quarterback and also played defensive positions.
His athletic ability and understanding of football attracted attention from college recruiters.
Edwards initially committed to Western Michigan University before deciding to join the University of Wisconsin.
At Wisconsin, the coaching staff recognized his potential as a linebacker, and he eventually established himself as one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten Conference.
He became a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection by at least one major voting group and earned first-team All-American recognition in 2017.
Over his college career, he recorded 367 tackles and ten interceptions.
Despite those achievements, Edwards went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft.
However, the Philadelphia Eagles signed him as an undrafted free agent, giving him an opportunity to pursue his professional ambitions.
He gradually earned a prominent role within Philadelphia’s defense and eventually became one of the team’s leading tacklers.
During the 2022 season, Edwards helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl LVII.
His performances attracted interest from other NFL organizations, including the Chicago Bears.
In March 2023, he signed with Chicago, returning to the franchise he had supported throughout childhood.
In April 2025, the Bears rewarded Edwards with a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season.
For his parents, the achievement represented the culmination of a lifelong family connection to Chicago football.
Frequently Asked Questions About T. J. Edwards’ Family
Who is T. J. Edwards’ wife?
T. J. Edwards is married to Kelly Jo Vander Loop Edwards, a Wisconsin native who has worked in real estate and business administration.
Does T. J. Edwards have a girlfriend?
Edwards is married to Kelly Jo Vander Loop. The couple began dating in 2017 and married in February 2023.
When did T. J. Edwards get married?
T. J. Edwards and Kelly Jo Vander Loop married on February 25, 2023, in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Does T. J. Edwards have children?
As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that T. J. Edwards and his wife have children.
Who is T. J. Edwards’ father?
His father is Vince Edwards, who grew up on Chicago’s South Side and introduced T. J. to the Chicago Bears during childhood.
Who is T. J. Edwards’ mother?
His mother is Cathy Edwards, who grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois, and helped organize family gatherings centered around Chicago Bears football.
Does T. J. Edwards have siblings?
As of now, the names and number of T. J. Edwards’ brothers or sisters have not been reliably confirmed in the public sources reviewed.
Is Andrew Spencer related to T. J. Edwards?
Andrew Spencer is T. J. Edwards’ longtime childhood friend. Although they share a close relationship, he is not publicly identified as Edwards’ biological brother.
Where is T. J. Edwards from?
T. J. Edwards is from Lake Villa, Illinois, United States. He attended Lakes Community High School before playing college football at Wisconsin.
Which NFL team does T. J. Edwards play for?
As of now, T. J. Edwards plays linebacker for the Chicago Bears. He previously spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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.
