Last Updated on November 4, 2026 by Tanos Potter
Jacob Saylors is an American football running back and kick returner for the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Born on March 8, 2000, in Jasper, Tennessee, Saylors played college football at East Tennessee State University before beginning his professional career. Away from football, he is a father and a longtime partner to Jayla Shelton.
Jacob Saylors’ family includes his longtime partner, Jayla Shelton, their daughter, Athena Reign Saylors, his mother, Jeanetta Brophy, and at least one older brother. Although his football career has received considerable media attention, relatively little information about his wider family has been made public.
Jacob Saylors’ Girlfriend and Wife
Jayla Shelton – Jacob Saylors’ Longtime Partner
Jacob Saylors is in a longtime relationship with Jayla Shelton, a former college softball player who attended East Tennessee State University.
Jayla Shelton was born on February 15, 2001, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. She attended Scecina Memorial High School before enrolling at East Tennessee State University, where she studied marketing and business management.
During her college years, Shelton was a member of the university’s softball program. She also earned recognition on the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
According to EssentiallySports, Saylors and Shelton have been publicly associated since at least December 2019, when Shelton shared a photograph of the couple on Facebook.
Both attended East Tennessee State University, where Saylors played football and Shelton participated in softball. However, the exact circumstances of their first meeting have not been publicly confirmed.
Their relationship continued as Saylors pursued his professional football career, including appearances with the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Battlehawks and Detroit Lions.
In October 2025, EssentiallySports identified Shelton as Saylors’ fiancée and reported that her Facebook profile listed their engagement as beginning in 2024.
Did Jacob Saylors Marry Jayla Shelton?
Jacob Saylors and Jayla Shelton publicly announced plans to marry on April 9, 2026, in Newport, Tennessee.
Their wedding website on Zola identified the couple as the bride and groom and provided details about a ceremony and reception at The Estate at Sweet Water Creek.
The wedding website also identified Jeanetta Brophy as the mother of the groom and Athena Saylors as the flower girl.
Although the couple publicly scheduled their wedding for April 2026, independent confirmation that the ceremony took place has not been established through the available reporting.
As of now, Jayla Shelton is Jacob Saylors’ publicly identified longtime partner, and their wedding plans are documented through their official wedding website.
Jacob Saylors’ Children
Jacob Saylors is the father of a daughter named Athena Reign Saylors, whom he shares with Jayla Shelton.
Athena Reign Saylors – Jacob Saylors’ Daughter
Athena Reign Saylors was born on June 20, 2023. Her birth and identity have been documented through public reporting about her parents and their family life.
According to EssentiallySports, Jayla Shelton celebrated Athena’s arrival by publishing photographs of her newborn daughter on Instagram.
The announcement included an emotional message expressing the love and happiness Shelton experienced after becoming a mother.
Athena has appeared in family photographs shared by Shelton, including images documenting important moments in her early childhood.
Sports Illustrated also identified Athena as the daughter of Saylors and Shelton in a September 2025 feature about the wives and girlfriends of Detroit Lions players.
Another public confirmation of Athena’s place in the family appeared on her parents’ wedding website, where she was listed as their flower girl for the April 2026 ceremony.
As of now, Athena Reign Saylors is Jacob Saylors’ publicly confirmed daughter. No reliable reports have established that he has additional children.
Jacob Saylors’ Parents
Jacob Saylors grew up in Jasper, Tennessee, where he attended Marion County High School. His publicly documented family background includes his mother, Jeanetta Brophy.
Jeanetta Brophy – Jacob Saylors’ Mother
Jeanetta Brophy is Jacob Saylors’ mother. Her identity has been confirmed in official football biographies published by East Tennessee State University, the Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons.
The Detroit Lions’ official player biography identifies Saylors as the son of Jeanetta Brophy, while his university profile provides the same information.
Jeanetta was also listed as the mother of the groom on the wedding website created for Jacob Saylors and Jayla Shelton.
Although her name has appeared in official sporting records and family announcements, Jeanetta has generally remained outside the public spotlight.
Reliable public sources have not provided extensive information about her occupation, education or other personal details.
Nevertheless, her inclusion in Saylors’ official football biographies and wedding arrangements establishes her connection to his personal and professional journey.
Who Is Jacob Saylors’ Father?
As of now, the identity of Jacob Saylors’ father has not been reliably established in publicly available football biographies or major sports reporting.
His official player profiles identify his mother, Jeanetta Brophy, but do not provide his father’s name.
There is also insufficient verified information about his father’s occupation, background or relationship with the Detroit Lions running back.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to identify a particular individual as his father without additional reliable confirmation.
Jacob Saylors’ Siblings
Jacob Saylors has at least one older brother. His relationship with his brother was documented in a 2018 interview published by The East Tennessean, the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University.
Jacob Saylors’ Older Brother
During an interview published on November 8, 2018, Saylors revealed that his older brother played an important role in introducing him to football.
According to the interview, Saylors began playing football at approximately four years old because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, who was seven at the time.
Saylors described his brother as a role model and explained that he initially followed him into football because he admired him.
Interestingly, Saylors admitted that football was not initially his favorite sport. He said that if he had not pursued football, he would probably have played baseball.
His decision to follow his older brother into organized football eventually developed into a successful athletic career.
Saylors became a standout player at Marion County High School before enrolling at East Tennessee State University, where he developed into one of the program’s leading running backs.
The 2018 interview did not identify his older brother by name.
Does Jacob Saylors Have Other Brothers or Sisters?
Jacob Saylors’ publicly available interviews confirm that he has an older brother, but reliable sources have not established the complete number of his siblings.
His wedding website identifies several people with the surnames Saylors and Brophy as members of his wedding party. However, their exact family relationships are not specified.
Consequently, those individuals should not automatically be identified as his biological brothers or sisters.
As of now, at least one older brother is confirmed, but the names and number of any additional siblings remain publicly unverified.
Jacob Saylors’ Family Background and Upbringing
Jacob Saylors was born and raised in Jasper, Tennessee, where he developed a passion for athletics during childhood.
He began playing football at approximately four years old, inspired by his older brother.
While attending Marion County High School, Saylors participated in football, basketball and baseball, demonstrating his versatility as an athlete.
He became one of the school’s most productive football players, accumulating more than 4,100 offensive yards and 74 touchdowns during his high school career.
Saylors also helped Marion County reach three consecutive Tennessee Class 2A state championship games.
Following high school, he enrolled at East Tennessee State University, where he studied engineering technology while competing for the Buccaneers football team.
During his college career from 2018 to 2022, Saylors accumulated 3,851 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. His performances earned him All-American recognition and established him as one of the university’s most accomplished running backs.
He entered professional football in 2023 after signing with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent.
After spending time with several NFL organizations, Saylors played for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the United Football League before signing with the Detroit Lions in July 2025.
His professional career has developed alongside important personal milestones, including becoming a father in June 2023 and planning his wedding with longtime partner Jayla Shelton.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jacob Saylors’ Family
Who is Jacob Saylors’ girlfriend?
Jacob Saylors’ longtime partner is Jayla Shelton, a former East Tennessee State University softball player. The couple has been publicly associated since at least 2019 and announced their engagement before scheduling a wedding in April 2026.
Is Jacob Saylors married?
Jacob Saylors and Jayla Shelton scheduled their wedding for April 9, 2026, according to their public wedding website. However, independent confirmation that the ceremony took place has not been established.
Does Jacob Saylors have children?
Yes. Jacob Saylors has a daughter named Athena Reign Saylors, who was born on June 20, 2023.
Who is Jacob Saylors’ mother?
Jacob Saylors’ mother is Jeanetta Brophy. Her identity is confirmed by his official Detroit Lions and East Tennessee State University biographies.
Who is Jacob Saylors’ father?
The name of Jacob Saylors’ father has not been reliably confirmed in major public sources.
Does Jacob Saylors have siblings?
Yes. Jacob Saylors has at least one older brother, whom he described as a childhood role model during a 2018 interview with The East Tennessean.
What is Jacob Saylors’ brother’s name?
The name of Jacob Saylors’ older brother has not been conclusively verified through reliable public reporting.
Where is Jacob Saylors from?
Jacob Saylors is from Jasper, Tennessee. He attended Marion County High School before playing college football at East Tennessee State University.
When was Jacob Saylors’ daughter born?
His daughter, Athena Reign Saylors, was born on June 20, 2023.
Tanos Potter is a sports journalist and NFL analyst dedicated to bringing fans closer to the gridiron through deep tactical analysis and roster coverage. He breaks down offensive and defensive schemes, quarterback performance, trade moves, and top Draft prospects. Tracking action across both the AFC and NFC, Tanos translates complex playbooks and statistics into engaging, actionable insights for football enthusiasts.
