Last Updated on October 21, 2026 by Mariah Miranda
Yahya Black’s family includes his wife, Hailiy Okins Black, and his parents, Wendy and Richard Black. Born on April 21, 2002, in Marshall, Minnesota, Yahya Black is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL).
Black grew up in Minnesota, where his family supported his development as a football player. His father has roots in Alabama, while his mother has longstanding family connections to Minnesota. He also has a stepmother whom he has publicly credited with introducing him to one of his favorite musical artists.
In his personal life, Black celebrated his engagement to longtime girlfriend Hailiy Okins in June 2025. The couple publicly announced their marriage later that year and organized another wedding celebration in Minneapolis in April 2026.
Here is everything publicly known about Yahya Black’s wife, children, parents and siblings, including his family background, marriage, relationship history and journey from Marshall High School to the NFL.
Yahya Black’s Wife: Who Is Hailiy Okins?
Hailiy Okins Black is Yahya Black’s wife. The couple announced their engagement in 2025 before sharing news of their marriage later that year.
Hailiy and Yahya began their relationship during his college football career at the University of Iowa.
According to an article published by EssentiallySports in November 2025, their romantic relationship began in October 2020.
They remained together throughout Black’s college career and his transition to professional football.
The Pittsburgh Steelers publicly congratulated the couple on their engagement in July 2025.
On November 22, 2025, the organization also congratulated Yahya and Hailiy following their marriage announcement.
The couple subsequently organized a wedding celebration in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on April 9, 2026.
As of now, Yahya Black and Hailiy Okins are married.
Who Is Hailiy Okins Black?
Hailiy Okins is an American healthcare professional from Minnesota who became publicly known through her relationship with Pittsburgh Steelers player Yahya Black.
According to EssentiallySports, she grew up in Franklin, Minnesota, and attended Redwood Valley Senior High School.
During her school years, she participated in athletics, including softball.
After high school, Hailiy pursued an interest in emergency medical services.
Published biographical reporting identifies Ridgewater College as an institution where she studied paramedicine.
She has also been associated with North Memorial Health, working in emergency medical services.
However, her exact current employment position has not been independently confirmed through a recent official professional biography.
Hailiy has shared selected personal milestones through social media, particularly her engagement and marriage to Black.
She has also supported her husband’s football career while maintaining interests outside professional sports.
How Did Yahya Black and Hailiy Okins Meet?
Yahya Black and Hailiy Okins began dating around October 2020, according to published relationship reporting.
At the time, Black had recently begun his college football career at the University of Iowa.
Hailiy also had connections to Minnesota, where Yahya had grown up.
Although the couple have shared photographs and relationship milestones, the exact circumstances of their first meeting have not been established through a detailed public interview.
Their relationship continued as Black developed into an important defensive player for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
During his college years, he experienced the challenges of balancing university studies, football training and a demanding athletic schedule.
Hailiy remained part of his life as he completed five seasons at Iowa.
The couple also shared interests outside football, including outdoor activities and spending time with their dogs.
When Black was selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, their relationship entered another significant chapter.
When Did Yahya Black Get Engaged?
Yahya Black proposed to Hailiy Okins on June 29, 2025, according to published reports.
The proposal took place during a trip to California.
Black reportedly selected a beach setting for the romantic occasion.
Hailiy accepted his proposal, and the couple began preparing for their future together.
On July 2, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers publicly congratulated Black and Hailiy on their engagement.
Steelers Now subsequently reported the announcement on July 3.
The engagement attracted attention because Black was entering his first NFL season after being selected by Pittsburgh in the 2025 Draft.
It represented an important personal milestone alongside the beginning of his professional career.
When Did Yahya Black Get Married?
Yahya Black and Hailiy Okins publicly celebrated their marriage in November 2025.
In a social media announcement, Hailiy shared photographs of the couple wearing wedding rings.
According to EssentiallySports, her caption included the date November 11, 2025.
She also updated her relationship status to married.
On November 22, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers congratulated Yahya and Hailiy Black through the team’s official social media account.
Sports Illustrated also reported that the couple had married after sharing photographs from their ceremony.
Their marriage marked the culmination of approximately five years together.
Yahya Black and Hailiy’s April 2026 Wedding Celebration
The couple also maintained a public wedding website on The Knot documenting a celebration scheduled for April 9, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The website identified the couple as Hailiy and Yahya Black.
It explained that their ceremony was intended for immediate family members, while a larger reception would allow relatives and friends to celebrate together.
The reception was scheduled at The Arthouse in Minneapolis.
The couple requested semi-formal attire and explained that they were more interested in celebrating with loved ones than receiving wedding gifts.
Because the couple had already publicly announced their marriage in November 2025, the available information suggests that their wedding celebrations took place in stages.
However, the exact legal marriage date and how the two ceremonies were formally arranged have not been independently established.
Yahya Black’s Children: Does He Have Any Kids?
As of now, Yahya Black has no publicly confirmed children.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle and his wife, Hailiy, have not made a widely verified public announcement of the birth or adoption of a son or daughter.
His official NFL and University of Iowa football biographies do not identify any children.
Likewise, the major reports covering his engagement and marriage have not established that the couple are parents.
Although they have begun their married life together, information about their future family plans remains private.
Consequently, it would be inaccurate to identify any children without reliable confirmation.
Yahya Black’s Parents: Meet Wendy and Richard Black
Yahya Black’s parents are Wendy Black and Richard Black.
Both names are confirmed in the official Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Iowa athletics biographies.
Black was raised in Marshall, Minnesota, a community in the southwestern part of the state.
His family has connections to Minnesota and Alabama, giving him ties to different regions of the United States.
His parents’ support provided a foundation for his participation in high school athletics and eventual opportunity to play college football at Iowa.
Yahya Black’s Father: Richard Black
Richard Black is Yahya Black’s father.
According to a 2024 Associated Press feature republished by NBC Sports, Richard is originally from Alabama.
His Southern background influenced the family’s sporting interests while Yahya was growing up in Minnesota.
Although Marshall is located within the home state of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Black did not grow up closely following the university’s football program.
During the Associated Press interview, he explained that his father’s Alabama roots were one reason he had not developed a particularly strong attachment to Minnesota college football.
According to a May 2025 profile published by Black and Gold Nation, Richard worked in construction.
However, detailed information about his current professional activities remains limited.
How Richard Black Influenced Yahya’s Football Background
Richard Black was part of Yahya’s upbringing during the years when he developed into a promising athlete.
Growing up in Marshall, Yahya participated in multiple sports before concentrating on football.
His unusual size and athletic abilities eventually attracted attention from college recruiters.
Black developed into a talented player on both the offensive and defensive lines at Marshall High School.
Although he lived in Minnesota, his recruiting process eventually led him to the University of Iowa.
According to the Associated Press, his first experience attending a major college football game came during a recruiting visit to Iowa in 2019.
That visit helped introduce him to the college football environment.
He eventually accepted the opportunity to play for the Hawkeyes, beginning a five-year collegiate career that led to the NFL.
Yahya Black’s Mother: Wendy Black
Wendy Black is Yahya Black’s mother.
Her name is confirmed in both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Iowa Hawkeyes official football biographies.
Public family records also identify her as Wendy DeMuth-Black, reflecting her connection to the DeMuth family of Minnesota.
She is the daughter of Douglas and Janet DeMuth, according to a family obituary published by the Pope County Tribune in October 2026.
The family has longstanding connections to Marshall, Minnesota, where Yahya was born and raised.
Wendy supported Yahya during his development as a high school athlete and throughout his journey into college football.
Although she has been identified in official sports biographies, detailed information about her current profession has not been reliably established through major public reporting.
Yahya Black Has Also Spoken About His Stepmother
Another publicly documented family relationship involves Yahya Black’s stepmother.
In a May 22, 2025, interview published by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Black explained that his stepmother introduced him to the music of British singer Adele during childhood.
The influence became significant because Black developed an unusual pregame routine involving Adele’s songs.
Instead of listening to aggressive or high-energy music before football games, he preferred calmer songs that helped him relax.
Black described the routine as a way to maintain emotional control before competing.
He continued listening to Adele before games throughout his college football career.
His stepmother was also mentioned in a 2024 Associated Press feature, where Black explained that friends and relatives sometimes contacted her to request football tickets.
However, her name has not been reliably identified in these interviews.
For that reason, it would be inaccurate to assign a specific name to his stepmother without further verification.
Yahya Black’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
Information about Yahya Black’s siblings is limited in official football biographies.
Neither the Steelers nor the University of Iowa provides a complete list of his brothers and sisters.
However, a family obituary published in October 2026 provides an additional clue about his relatives.
The obituary of his maternal grandfather, Douglas DeMuth, identifies both Yahya Black and Avery Black among the grandchildren.
The two are listed together under the extended DeMuth family.
This suggests a close family relationship, potentially as siblings, but the obituary does not explicitly state whether Avery is Yahya’s brother or sister.
Who Is Avery Black?
Avery Black is a publicly identified member of Yahya Black’s extended family.
The name appears in the October 2026 obituary of Douglas Arthur DeMuth, Yahya’s maternal grandfather.
Because both Yahya and Avery are listed as grandchildren and share the Black surname, they may be siblings.
However, their precise relationship has not been independently established through an official interview or player biography.
Additional information about Avery’s age, education, profession and personal life has not been reliably documented in major sports reporting.
Does Yahya Black Have a Brother?
There is no authoritative football biography explicitly identifying a brother of Yahya Black by name.
Although Avery Black appears in the family’s public records, Avery’s relationship and gender have not been independently established through the sources reviewed.
Therefore, identifying Avery as his brother would require further confirmation.
Does Yahya Black Have a Sister?
No sister has been explicitly identified in the official Pittsburgh Steelers or Iowa Hawkeyes biographies.
The available public information also does not establish whether Avery Black is his sister.
As of now, his siblings’ names and exact number remain incompletely documented.
Yahya Black’s Grandparents and Family Roots in Minnesota
Yahya Black also has publicly documented connections to the DeMuth family through his mother.
His maternal grandparents were Douglas “Doug” Arthur DeMuth and Janet DeMuth.
According to an obituary published by the Pope County Tribune on October 5, 2026, Douglas was born in Marshall, Minnesota, in 1951.
He attended Marshall High School before studying plumbing at a vocational college.
Douglas married Janet Brockberg in June 1971, and the couple raised four children.
He spent approximately 35 years working for Marshall Municipal Utilities.
Outside work, Douglas enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time outdoors and participating in family activities.
He died on October 1, 2026, at the age of 75.
The obituary specifically identifies Yahya and Hailiy Black among the surviving family members.
These records help establish the family’s longstanding roots in southwestern Minnesota.
Yahya Black’s Childhood and Early Life in Marshall, Minnesota
Yahya Black was born on April 21, 2002, in Marshall, Minnesota.
He grew up in a small community where high school athletics became an important part of his development.
Black attended Marshall High School, where he participated in football, basketball and track and field.
His size and strength made him a promising athlete in several sports.
He played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Marshall Tigers.
During the 2017 high school football season, he also played alongside future NFL quarterback Trey Lance.
According to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Black initially received opportunities as a developing player before establishing himself as one of Marshall’s leading defensive linemen.
His high school coach, Terry Bahlmann, recognized his physical potential and encouraged him to continue improving his technique.
Yahya Black’s High School Football Achievements
During his time at Marshall High School, Black helped the Tigers reach the state playoffs as a sophomore and junior.
The team compiled a combined record of 29 victories and four defeats during a three-year period.
Black became a team captain during his senior season.
His individual achievements included:
- All-State honors during his senior season.
- District Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
- District Defensive Lineman of the Year honors as a junior.
- A school record of 17.5 career sacks.
- Three varsity letters in football.
- Four varsity letters in track and field.
- Three varsity letters in basketball.
His performances attracted interest from college football programs, including Iowa and Kansas State.
Black ultimately decided to attend the University of Iowa.
Yahya Black’s College Football Career at Iowa
Yahya Black enrolled at the University of Iowa in 2020.
He initially redshirted during his freshman season, appearing in four games while adjusting to college football.
His playing opportunities increased in 2021, when he appeared in all 14 games and recorded 18 tackles.
During the 2022 season, he continued developing his technique and gaining experience against Big Ten opponents.
His major breakthrough came in 2023.
Black started all 14 games and recorded 51 tackles, including five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
His performances earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition from conference coaches and media.
He also developed into an important member of Iowa’s defensive leadership group.
During his senior season in 2024, Black started all 13 games.
He finished with 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, two passes defended and a blocked field goal.
He again earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Black also received the Hayden Fry Extra Heartbeat Award for his leadership and dedication.
He completed his college football career having started 27 consecutive games.
How Yahya Black Developed Into a Team Leader
One interesting aspect of Black’s college career involved his personal development.
According to a September 2024 Associated Press feature, Black was relatively quiet and reserved during his early years at Iowa.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz recalled that he initially struggled to understand Black’s personality because the defensive lineman rarely spoke.
However, his confidence gradually increased as he became more comfortable with teammates and coaches.
By his final season, Black had become one of the team’s most vocal leaders.
He regularly encouraged younger players and contributed to the atmosphere within Iowa’s defensive line group.
The transformation demonstrated his personal growth during five years of college football.
Yahya Black’s NFL Career With the Pittsburgh Steelers
On April 26, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Yahya Black in the fifth round of the NFL Draft with the 164th overall pick.
The selection fulfilled his ambition of playing professional football.
Pittsburgh valued Black’s exceptional size, physical strength and ability to defend against the running game.
At approximately 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing more than 330 pounds, he offered a powerful presence on the defensive line.
The Steelers signed him to his rookie contract in May 2025.
Black made his NFL regular-season debut during Pittsburgh’s opening game of the 2025 season against the New York Jets.
He earned his first professional start in Week 3 against the New England Patriots.
During his rookie season, he appeared in all 17 regular-season games, including three starts.
According to the Steelers’ official statistics, Black finished the season with 28 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass defended.
He also recorded a season-high nine tackles against the Buffalo Bills.
His rookie campaign established him as a promising young defensive player within the organization.
Black continued his career with Pittsburgh during the 2026 season.
Why Family Is Important to Yahya Black
Yahya Black’s family has influenced different aspects of his personal development.
His parents supported his athletic ambitions while he was growing up in Minnesota.
His father’s connections to Alabama gave him a family background extending beyond his home state.
His stepmother introduced him to music that eventually became part of his football preparation.
In college, Black also demonstrated a strong connection to his hometown.
According to the Associated Press, he regularly returned to Marshall during the offseason to visit his former high school coaches and help younger football players.
His family and hometown connections remained important after he moved away to attend college.
In his romantic life, his relationship with Hailiy continued throughout his years at Iowa and the beginning of his NFL career.
Their marriage and wedding celebrations marked important milestones as Black established himself with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yahya Black’s Family
Who is Yahya Black’s wife?
Yahya Black’s wife is Hailiy Okins Black, a Minnesota native with a background in emergency medical services.
When did Yahya Black get married?
Yahya Black and Hailiy publicly announced their marriage in November 2025. Their wedding website also lists a celebration in Minneapolis on April 9, 2026.
Who was Yahya Black’s girlfriend?
Before their marriage, Yahya Black’s longtime girlfriend was Hailiy Okins. The couple reportedly began dating in October 2020 and became engaged in June 2025.
When did Yahya Black get engaged?
Yahya Black reportedly proposed to Hailiy Okins on June 29, 2025, during a trip to California. The Pittsburgh Steelers congratulated them publicly in July 2025.
Does Yahya Black have children?
As of now, Yahya Black has no publicly confirmed children. He and his wife have not announced the birth or adoption of a child.
Who are Yahya Black’s parents?
Yahya Black’s parents are Wendy Black and Richard Black. Both are identified in his official Steelers and Iowa Hawkeyes football biographies.
Who is Yahya Black’s father?
His father is Richard Black, originally from Alabama. Published reporting has identified him as having worked in construction.
Who is Yahya Black’s mother?
His mother is Wendy Black, also identified in family records as Wendy DeMuth-Black. She comes from a Minnesota family with longstanding connections to Marshall.
Does Yahya Black have a stepmother?
Yes. Yahya Black has publicly mentioned a stepmother who introduced him to Adele’s music during childhood. Her name has not been reliably confirmed in the interviews reviewed.
Does Yahya Black have siblings?
His official NFL and college football biographies do not provide a complete list of siblings. A family obituary identifies Avery Black alongside Yahya among their maternal grandfather’s grandchildren, but does not explicitly state their relationship.
Who is Avery Black?
Avery Black is a member of Yahya Black’s extended family, identified in the obituary of Douglas DeMuth. Avery may be Yahya’s sibling, but the relationship has not been independently confirmed.
Who were Yahya Black’s maternal grandparents?
His maternal grandparents were Douglas Arthur DeMuth and Janet DeMuth. Douglas died in October 2026, according to the Pope County Tribune.
Where is Yahya Black from?
Yahya Black was born and raised in Marshall, Minnesota, where he attended Marshall High School.
How old is Yahya Black?
Yahya Black was born on April 21, 2002, making him 24 years old as of now.
What NFL team does Yahya Black play for?
Yahya Black plays defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mariah Miranda is a dedicated sports journalist specializing in comprehensive NFL coverage, playbook strategy, and team analytics. From offseason Draft planning and free-agency moves to weekly matchup breakdowns and playoff pushes, she delivers clear, data-driven analysis of every division in the league. Driven by a deep understanding of football tactics and locker-room dynamics, Mariah brings fans closer to the gridiron with sharp commentary and player updates.
