Last Updated on November 2, 2026 by Tanos Potter
Samaje Perine is an American professional football player who plays as a running back for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 16, 1995, in Jackson, Alabama, Perine has established himself as a dependable running back throughout his professional career.
Beyond his achievements on the football field, Perine is a devoted husband and father of three children. He has been married to his longtime sweetheart, Megan Haney, since 2017. His mother, Gloria Perine, and stepfather, Casey Barber, also played important roles in his upbringing and athletic development.
Here is everything publicly known about Samaje Perine’s wife, children, parents, and siblings.
Samaje Perine’s Wife: Who Is Megan Perine?
Samaje Perine is married to Megan Perine, formerly known as Megan Haney. The couple met while attending Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, Texas, and began their relationship as teenagers.
What started as a high school romance eventually developed into a long-term relationship that continued throughout Perine’s college football career at the University of Oklahoma.
Megan supported Samaje during his college years, frequently attending football games and celebrating his athletic achievements.
In February 2017, Perine proposed to Megan with the assistance of professional magician Daniel Fernandez. The proposal took place during a magic performance, with Perine surprising his girlfriend by presenting an engagement ring.
Megan accepted the proposal, and the couple married on June 23, 2017, in an intimate wedding ceremony.
Since their marriage, the couple has welcomed three children and maintained their relationship throughout Perine’s NFL career.
Who Is Megan Haney Perine?
Megan Haney Perine attended Hendrickson High School in Texas before pursuing higher education at the University of Oklahoma.
She graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and accounting. She subsequently pursued graduate studies in accounting through the university’s online program.
In addition to her academic background, Megan has been an active supporter of her husband’s professional football career.
She has shared photographs and family updates through social media, documenting important moments involving their children and their experiences as an NFL family.
Megan has accompanied Samaje through several stages of his career, including his time with Washington, Cincinnati, Denver, and Kansas City.
As of now, Samaje Perine and Megan remain publicly known as a married couple with three children.
Samaje Perine’s Children: Does He Have Kids?
As of now, Samaje Perine has three publicly known children with his wife, Megan Perine. The couple has two daughters and one son.
Their children are Landyn Leigh Perine, Major Perine, and Aila James Perine.
Perine became a father during his early NFL career and has publicly discussed the responsibilities and happiness associated with raising a family.
Landyn Leigh Perine: Samaje Perine’s First Daughter
Landyn Leigh Perine is the eldest child of Samaje and Megan Perine. She was born in March 2019, approximately two years after her parents married.
Her arrival marked an important milestone in Samaje’s personal life.
In a 2019 interview published by Washington’s official NFL website, Perine described becoming a father as a life-changing experience.
He explained that parenthood required significant adjustments, particularly when planning everyday activities and balancing his football responsibilities with caring for a newborn.
Despite the challenges, Perine expressed happiness about welcoming his daughter and beginning his journey as a parent.
Landyn has occasionally appeared in family photographs shared by her parents.
Major Perine: Samaje Perine’s Son
Major Perine, also referred to as Maj Jr., is the second child and only publicly known son of Samaje and Megan Perine.
He was born in 2021, approximately two years after his older sister, Landyn.
Major’s arrival expanded the family to four members and gave Samaje another opportunity to experience the responsibilities of fatherhood.
Although his parents occasionally share family moments publicly, they generally maintain privacy regarding the children’s everyday lives.
Aila James Perine: Samaje Perine’s Youngest Daughter
Aila James Perine is the youngest publicly known child of Samaje and Megan Perine. She was born in 2023.
Aila is the couple’s second daughter and third child.
Her birth expanded the Perine household to five members, including Samaje, Megan, Landyn, Major, and Aila.
Megan has celebrated important milestones involving Aila on social media, including birthday celebrations and family occasions.
As of now, there have been no widely verified public announcements of additional children.
Samaje Perine’s Parents
Samaje Perine grew up in a supportive family environment that emphasized education, discipline, humility, and hard work.
His mother is Gloria Perine, while his stepfather is Casey Barber. Both were involved in supporting his development during childhood and his early football career.
Although information about his biological father is limited, Perine has spoken about the positive influence of his mother and other family members.
Samaje Perine’s Mother: Gloria Perine
Gloria Perine is Samaje Perine’s mother and one of the most influential people in his life.
She helped raise Samaje in Alabama before the family moved to Texas, where he attended Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville.
Gloria worked in the technology industry and was identified as an Apple area manager in Austin in a 2014 University of Oklahoma Athletics feature about her son.
In interviews, Gloria has described Samaje as a disciplined, respectful, and hardworking child who rarely caused problems at home or school.
She also emphasized his academic achievements, noting that he took his education seriously while developing his athletic abilities.
Gloria played an important role in encouraging Samaje to remain humble despite his growing reputation as a talented football player.
During his college football career at Oklahoma, she regularly expressed appreciation to coaches who supported his development.
In February 2022, Gloria spoke to Spectrum News about the emotional experience of watching her son help the Cincinnati Bengals reach Super Bowl LVI.
She described the pride she felt after Perine scored a touchdown during the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Her relationship with her son remains an important part of his personal story.
Samaje Perine’s Father: What Is Known About His Biological Father?
As of now, reliable public sources provide limited information about Samaje Perine’s biological father.
His biological father’s name, professional background, and current relationship with the NFL player have not been consistently established through authoritative reporting.
However, Samaje’s stepfather, Casey Barber, has been publicly identified as an important father figure in his upbringing.
Casey Barber: Samaje Perine’s Stepfather
Casey Barber is Samaje Perine’s stepfather and the husband of his mother, Gloria Perine.
According to a 2014 feature published by the University of Oklahoma Athletics Department, Barber worked as a software engineer at Spansion, a semiconductor company.
Gloria credited her husband and other relatives with helping teach Samaje the importance of hard work, humility, and personal responsibility.
She explained that Barber had a calm personality and believed Samaje shared several of his characteristics.
Alongside Gloria, Barber helped establish a supportive family environment that encouraged Samaje to pursue his academic and athletic goals.
Another important influence was Samaje’s maternal grandfather, Sam, who was also recognized for his calm personality and strong work ethic.
Samaje Perine’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
As of now, there is no reliable, publicly verified information identifying any brothers or sisters of Samaje Perine.
Although some online biographies describe him as an only child, this claim has not been conclusively established through authoritative interviews or official family records.
Consequently, it is more accurate to state that Perine has no publicly confirmed siblings rather than definitively claiming that he has none.
One source of confusion involves another professional football player with the same surname, La’Mical Perine.
Is La’Mical Perine Samaje Perine’s Brother?
No. La’Mical Perine is Samaje Perine’s cousin, not his brother.
The Cincinnati Bengals confirmed their family relationship in an official player feature published in 2025.
La’Mical Perine is also an American football running back. He played college football at the University of Florida before being selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The two players share a family connection and a professional background in football, but they are not siblings.
Samaje Perine’s Family Background and Childhood
Samaje Perine was born in Jackson, Alabama, and spent part of his childhood in the southern United States before moving with his family to Pflugerville, Texas.
His family encouraged him to develop strong personal values and take his education seriously.
At Hendrickson High School, Perine became a standout football player and also participated in track and field.
His performances attracted attention from major college football programs, eventually leading him to the University of Oklahoma.
During the 2014 season, Perine made national headlines when he rushed for 427 yards against Kansas, establishing an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision single-game rushing record.
Perine continued playing for Oklahoma through the 2016 season before declaring for the NFL Draft.
The Washington franchise selected him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 114th overall pick.
Over subsequent seasons, he played for several organizations, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs.
He returned to Cincinnati in 2025 and continued representing the Bengals during the 2026 NFL season.
Throughout his football journey, Perine has maintained connections with his wife, children, mother, and other relatives.
How Samaje Perine Got His First Name
One distinctive aspect of Perine’s family background is the origin of his first name, Samaje.
According to his mother, Gloria, the name comes from a family tradition involving several relatives named Sam.
His maternal grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and cousin were among the family members who shared that name.
Gloria wanted to honor the tradition while giving her son a distinctive identity.
Instead of naming him simply Sam, she created the variation Samaje.
Perine later explained this family history in an interview published by Washington’s official NFL website.
Frequently Asked Questions About Samaje Perine’s Family
Who is Samaje Perine’s wife?
Samaje Perine’s wife is Megan Haney Perine. The couple met during high school in Texas and married on June 23, 2017.
Does Samaje Perine have a girlfriend?
Samaje Perine is married to his longtime partner, Megan Perine, rather than publicly identifying her as his girlfriend.
When did Samaje Perine get married?
Samaje Perine and Megan Haney married on June 23, 2017, after becoming engaged earlier that year.
How many children does Samaje Perine have?
As of now, Samaje Perine has three publicly known children: two daughters and one son.
What are the names of Samaje Perine’s children?
His children are Landyn Leigh Perine, Major Perine, and Aila James Perine.
Who is Samaje Perine’s mother?
His mother is Gloria Perine, who helped raise him in Alabama and Texas and previously worked as an Apple area manager in Austin.
Who is Samaje Perine’s father?
Information about his biological father is not reliably documented in major public sources. His stepfather is Casey Barber, a software engineer who helped raise him.
Does Samaje Perine have siblings?
There are no publicly confirmed siblings of Samaje Perine. Available authoritative sources do not establish whether he has any brothers or sisters.
Is La’Mical Perine related to Samaje Perine?
Yes. La’Mical Perine is Samaje Perine’s cousin, not his brother. Both have played professional American football.
Where is Samaje Perine’s family from?
Samaje Perine was born in Alabama and later grew up in Pflugerville, Texas, where he attended Hendrickson High School.
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.
