Last Updated on November 4, 2026 by Tanos Potter
Mekhi Wingo is an American professional football player who plays defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 17, 2003, in St. Louis, Missouri, Wingo developed his football career at the University of Missouri and Louisiana State University (LSU) before joining the NFL in 2024.
Beyond his achievements on the football field, Wingo maintains close relationships with his family and has spoken about the importance of spending time with loved ones. His mother, Taneka Wingo, has been identified in reporting about LSU football, while his girlfriend, ReAnna Sutherland, attracted attention after the couple shared photographs from a vacation in Jamaica.
Although Wingo has discussed his mother and family traditions, information about his father, siblings and possible children remains limited. Here is everything publicly known about Mekhi Wingo’s family.
Mekhi Wingo’s Girlfriend: Who Is ReAnna Sutherland?
ReAnna Sutherland has been publicly identified as Mekhi Wingo’s girlfriend.
On September 12, 2025, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit published an article about the wives and girlfriends of Detroit Lions players, identifying Sutherland as Wingo’s romantic partner.
The publication highlighted photographs shared on Wingo’s Instagram account showing the couple enjoying a vacation in Jamaica.
According to the article, Wingo and ReAnna appeared together in several photographs taken during their Caribbean getaway.
The images offered a rare public glimpse into the defensive lineman’s romantic life, which he generally keeps separate from his professional football career.
Although their relationship was publicly documented in 2025, reliable reporting has not established precisely when they began dating or how they first met.
As of now, ReAnna Sutherland remains Wingo’s most recently documented girlfriend, although their current relationship status has not been independently reconfirmed.
Who Is ReAnna Sutherland?
ReAnna Sutherland became publicly associated with the Detroit Lions through her relationship with Mekhi Wingo.
Despite the attention generated by their vacation photographs, she maintains a relatively private personal life.
Reliable public sources provide limited information about her childhood, parents, educational background and professional occupation.
Sports Illustrated identified her by name in its September 2025 article, but did not provide extensive biographical details.
Therefore, claims about her age, career or family background should not be presented as established facts without additional verification.
Is Mekhi Wingo Married?
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that Mekhi Wingo is married.
Sports Illustrated identified ReAnna Sutherland as his girlfriend in September 2025 rather than his wife.
His official Detroit Lions biography and the other reliable sources reviewed do not document a wedding or engagement announcement.
Consequently, his marital status has not been independently established beyond the previously reported relationship.
Mekhi Wingo’s Children: Does He Have Any Kids?
As of now, Mekhi Wingo has no publicly confirmed children.
Neither his official Detroit Lions biography nor the reliable interviews reviewed establish whether he has welcomed a son or daughter.
Although Wingo has spoken about his close family relationships, he has not made a widely documented announcement identifying any children of his own.
There is also insufficient verified information to determine whether he and ReAnna Sutherland have children together.
The absence of public information does not necessarily establish that he has no children, as some professional athletes choose to keep their family lives private.
Mekhi Wingo’s Parents: Meet His Mother and Father
Mekhi Wingo grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he developed his passion for football and established strong family connections.
He has publicly acknowledged the importance of his mother and other loved ones throughout his athletic journey.
In interviews, Wingo has described spending time with his family as one of his favorite activities away from football.
Although his mother’s name has appeared in college football reporting, considerably less information about his father is publicly available.
Mekhi Wingo’s Mother: Who Is Taneka Wingo?
Taneka Wingo has been identified as Mekhi Wingo’s mother in reporting covering LSU football.
On December 4, 2022, LSU Odyssey published a photographic report from Atlanta, Georgia, during LSU’s appearance in the SEC Championship Game.
The publication included a photograph identifying Taneka Wingo as Mekhi’s mother.
The photograph showed her alongside other people attending activities surrounding the college football event.
Although Taneka has maintained a relatively private profile, Mekhi has publicly expressed appreciation for his mother’s support.
When announcing his decision to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, Wingo specifically thanked his mother and other loved ones for believing in him and encouraging him throughout his football journey.
His comments reflected the importance of family support during his transition from college football to the professional level.
Mekhi Wingo’s Relationship With His Mother
In a February 25, 2024, interview with Windy City Gridiron, Wingo discussed his family life and the activities he enjoys when he is not playing football.
He explained that spending time with family members, cooking, eating together, watching television and playing cards were among his favorite ways to relax.
Wingo also spoke affectionately about his mother’s cooking.
He identified homemade macaroni and cheese, cabbage, meatloaf and turkey wings among the foods he particularly enjoyed.
His comments provided insight into the family traditions that remained important to him as he prepared to enter the NFL.
Cooking and spending time together have been recurring themes in his public descriptions of family life.
During a July 2024 interview published by the Detroit Lions, Wingo again mentioned meatloaf, macaroni and cabbage among his favorite meals.
These comments demonstrate how strongly he associates home-cooked food and family gatherings with his life outside football.
However, Taneka’s professional occupation, educational background and other personal details have not been reliably established through the available public sources.
Mekhi Wingo’s Father: Who Is His Dad?
As of now, the identity of Mekhi Wingo’s father has not been reliably established through official NFL biographies, college athletic records or verified interviews.
Although Wingo has acknowledged his family and discussed his upbringing in St. Louis, he has not publicly provided extensive information about his father’s personal background.
His father’s full name, occupation and relationship with the NFL defensive tackle remain unverified.
Consequently, it would be inaccurate to identify a particular individual as his father without supporting evidence.
Most of Wingo’s publicly documented family comments have focused on his mother, family gatherings and the encouragement he received throughout his football career.
Mekhi Wingo’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
As of now, there is insufficient reliable public information identifying Mekhi Wingo’s brothers or sisters.
His official Detroit Lions and LSU biographies provide extensive details about his athletic achievements but do not establish the names or number of his siblings.
Although Wingo has spoken about enjoying time with his family, he has not publicly identified specific siblings in the reliable interviews reviewed.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to describe him as an only child or to claim that he has a particular number of brothers or sisters without additional evidence.
Is Mekhi Wingo Related to Ryan Wingo?
Some football fans have questioned whether Mekhi Wingo is related to Ryan Wingo, a wide receiver who played college football for the University of Texas.
The speculation arose partly because both players have connections to St. Louis, Missouri, and share the Wingo surname.
However, no reliable public source reviewed establishes that Mekhi and Ryan are brothers.
Their shared surname and geographical background are not sufficient evidence of a family relationship.
As of now, any claim that Mekhi Wingo and Ryan Wingo are siblings should be treated as unverified.
How Mekhi Wingo’s Family Influenced His Football Career
Mekhi Wingo grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he developed an interest in football during childhood.
In a February 2024 interview with Windy City Gridiron, Wingo revealed that he had dreamed of playing in the NFL since he was eight years old.
He attended De Smet Jesuit High School in Creve Coeur, Missouri, where he became one of the state’s leading defensive football prospects.
During his senior season, Wingo recorded 54 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and five sacks.
His performances helped De Smet Jesuit establish itself as one of Missouri’s most competitive high school football programs.
In May 2021, Wingo received the prestigious Gatorade Missouri Football Player of the Year award for the 2020-21 season.
The award recognized not only his athletic performances but also his academic achievements and contributions to the community.
Wingo eventually committed to the University of Missouri, allowing him to begin his college football career in his home state.
The opportunity also meant that relatives and friends could attend games without traveling as far as they might have needed to if he had enrolled at a university elsewhere.
Mekhi Wingo’s College Football Career
Mekhi Wingo began his college football career at the University of Missouri in 2021.
During his freshman season, he appeared in 13 games, recording 33 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and an interception returned for a touchdown.
His performances earned him recognition on the SEC All-Freshman Team.
After one season at Missouri, Wingo entered the transfer portal and joined Louisiana State University.
He quickly established himself as an important member of LSU’s defensive line.
During the 2022 season, Wingo appeared in 14 games, recording 46 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks.
His performances earned him Third-Team All-American recognition from the Associated Press and Second-Team All-SEC honors.
In 2023, he became one of LSU’s team captains and received the prestigious number 18 jersey.
At LSU, the number 18 is traditionally awarded to a player who demonstrates leadership, character and commitment to the university’s football program.
Wingo also remained involved in charitable activities, participating in food assistance programs, youth events and other community initiatives.
He was named to the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and the SEC Community Service Team.
These honors recognized his contributions away from the football field.
Mekhi Wingo Thanked His Mother Before Entering the NFL
On January 2, 2024, Wingo publicly announced that he would forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
In his announcement, he thanked the University of Missouri, LSU, his coaches and teammates for helping him develop throughout his college career.
He also expressed appreciation for his mother and loved ones, acknowledging their encouragement and belief in his abilities.
The announcement marked the conclusion of his college football journey and the beginning of his transition to professional football.
For Wingo, reaching the NFL represented the fulfillment of a childhood ambition he had pursued for more than a decade.
Mekhi Wingo’s NFL Career With the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions selected Mekhi Wingo in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 189th overall pick.
His selection made him the first defensive player from LSU drafted by Detroit since Collis Temple in 1974.
Wingo joined the Lions as a defensive lineman capable of contributing along the interior of the defensive front.
During his rookie season in 2024, he appeared in 11 games and recorded nine combined tackles.
However, his first professional season was shortened by a knee injury that required surgery.
Wingo continued working toward recovery and returned to compete for a role in Detroit’s defensive rotation.
As of now, he remains listed on the Detroit Lions’ roster, wearing jersey number 94.
Throughout his development, he has continued representing his hometown of St. Louis while pursuing the professional football career he dreamed about as a child.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mekhi Wingo’s Family
Who is Mekhi Wingo’s girlfriend?
Mekhi Wingo has been publicly linked to ReAnna Sutherland. Sports Illustrated identified her as his girlfriend in September 2025 after the couple shared photographs from a vacation in Jamaica. Their current relationship status has not been independently reconfirmed.
Is Mekhi Wingo married?
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that Mekhi Wingo is married or has a wife.
Does Mekhi Wingo have children?
As of now, Mekhi Wingo has no publicly confirmed children.
Who is Mekhi Wingo’s mother?
Mekhi Wingo’s mother was identified as Taneka Wingo in a December 2022 photographic report published by LSU Odyssey. Wingo has also publicly discussed his appreciation for his mother’s support and cooking.
Who is Mekhi Wingo’s father?
Mekhi Wingo’s father’s identity has not been reliably established through the official biographies and interviews reviewed.
Does Mekhi Wingo have siblings?
There is insufficient verified public information establishing the names or number of Mekhi Wingo’s siblings.
Is Mekhi Wingo Ryan Wingo’s brother?
There is no reliable public evidence establishing that Mekhi Wingo and Ryan Wingo are brothers, despite sharing a surname and connections to St. Louis, Missouri.
Where is Mekhi Wingo from?
Mekhi Wingo is from St. Louis, Missouri. He attended De Smet Jesuit High School in Creve Coeur before playing college football at Missouri and LSU.
How old is Mekhi Wingo?
Mekhi Wingo was born on April 17, 2003. He is 23 years old as of now.
What NFL team does Mekhi Wingo play for?
As of now, Mekhi Wingo plays defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions. He joined the team as a sixth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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.
