Last Updated on November 4, 2026 by Tanos Potter
Tate Ratledge is an American football offensive guard for the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Born on April 26, 2001, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ratledge grew up in a family with strong connections to football and education. His father is a former college football player and longtime coach, while his mother is an educator and his younger sister also competed in high school athletics.
Tate Ratledge’s family includes his wife, Annabelle Braden Ratledge, his father, Dean Ratledge, his mother, Mary Stuart Ratledge, and his younger sister, Emmaline Ratledge. His parents have played important roles in his development, while his relationship with Annabelle began long before he entered the NFL. The couple married in March 2026 after announcing their engagement in April 2025.
Tate Ratledge’s Girlfriend and Wife
Annabelle Braden Ratledge – Tate Ratledge’s Wife
Tate Ratledge is married to Annabelle Braden Ratledge, his longtime girlfriend and former University of Georgia football recruiting specialist.
The couple married in March 2026 after maintaining a relationship that began during their teenage years.
Annabelle grew up in Rome, Georgia, and attended Darlington School, the same school where Tate developed into a highly regarded football prospect.
During high school, Annabelle participated in basketball, while Tate competed in football, basketball and track and field.
Their relationship dates back to approximately 2017 or 2018, according to photographs and statements shared publicly by the couple.
After high school, Annabelle pursued higher education in Georgia. She subsequently became involved in college football administration.
According to reporting published by EssentiallySports in April 2025, she worked as a recruiting specialist with the University of Georgia Athletic Association beginning in June 2021.
Her responsibilities involved supporting the university’s football recruiting operations.
The couple maintained their relationship throughout Tate’s college career, including the seasons in which Georgia won consecutive national championships.
Annabelle regularly attended Bulldogs games and celebrated his achievements through social media.
She also helped Tate care for his adopted dog, Zip, a pit bull he discussed during an interview while attending Georgia.
Following his selection by the Detroit Lions in April 2025, Annabelle continued supporting him as he transitioned from college football to the NFL.
Tate Ratledge and Annabelle Braden’s Engagement
Tate Ratledge proposed to Annabelle Braden on April 5, 2025, shortly before the 2025 NFL Draft.
The proposal took place outdoors in a scenic setting surrounded by trees.
Photographs shared on Instagram showed Ratledge kneeling while presenting Annabelle with an engagement ring.
Annabelle announced the engagement publicly on April 7, 2025, expressing gratitude for their years together and excitement about their future.
The announcement attracted congratulatory messages from friends and members of the University of Georgia football community.
Among those celebrating the occasion were Ryan Puglisi, a Georgia quarterback, and Kylie Beck, the sister of former Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck.
The engagement marked an important personal milestone shortly before Ratledge was selected by Detroit in the second round of the NFL Draft.
After the Lions selected him with the 57th overall pick on April 25, 2025, Annabelle celebrated the achievement through Instagram, expressing pride in his success and enthusiasm about the move to Detroit.
When Did Tate Ratledge Get Married?
Tate Ratledge and Annabelle Braden married in March 2026, following their engagement the previous year.
The couple’s public wedding registry listed March 7, 2026, as their wedding date.
The ceremony took place at Walnut Hill Farm in Georgia, an outdoor wedding venue surrounded by rolling hills and countryside scenery.
Wedding photographer Andrea Kelley documented the celebration in an article published on March 20, 2026.
The wedding featured an outdoor ceremony, floral arrangements, a reception and celebrations involving friends and relatives.
In February 2026, Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling also confirmed that he planned to attend Ratledge’s wedding following the NFL Scouting Combine.
The marriage was subsequently confirmed in an August 2026 interview published by Go Long, in which Ratledge discussed his wife and their plans for a honeymoon in St. Lucia.
As of now, Annabelle Braden Ratledge is Tate Ratledge’s wife.
Tate Ratledge’s Children
Does Tate Ratledge Have a Son or Daughter?
As of now, Tate Ratledge has no publicly confirmed children.
Although Ratledge and Annabelle married in March 2026, neither has made a verified public announcement confirming the birth of a son or daughter.
In an August 2026 interview with journalist Tyler Dunne for Go Long, Ratledge discussed the possibility of becoming a father in the future.
During the conversation, he reflected on his childhood and the lessons his parents taught him about discipline and responsibility.
His comments referred to hypothetical future children rather than identifying any existing sons or daughters.
There has also been no independently verified public announcement establishing that the couple is expecting a baby.
Therefore, Ratledge’s publicly documented family does not currently include any confirmed children.
Tate Ratledge’s Parents
Tate Ratledge was born to Dean Ratledge and Mary Stuart Ratledge. His parents have backgrounds in education, and his father also has extensive experience in college football and coaching.
The couple raised Tate and his younger sister, Emmaline, in Tennessee and Georgia.
Both parents have publicly discussed their son’s development and the importance of allowing him to make his own decisions about his football career.
Dean Ratledge – Tate Ratledge’s Father
Dean Ratledge is Tate Ratledge’s father, a former college football player and longtime football coach and physical education teacher.
Dean attended Tennessee Technological University, where he played football for the Golden Eagles from 1974 through 1977.
During the 1977 season, he earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference recognition.
Following college, he had a brief opportunity in professional football before concentrating on coaching and education.
Dean subsequently spent more than four decades working with young athletes as a teacher and football coach.
His professional career included positions at Darlington School, Pepperell Primary School and Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Georgia.
In a July 2024 school profile, Saint Mary’s reported that Dean had been involved in teaching and coaching for approximately 42 years.
The same profile identified him as a physical education teacher and assistant football coach.
Dean also earned a master’s degree in education.
How Dean Ratledge Influenced His Son’s Football Career
Dean’s experience as a college football player and coach significantly influenced Tate’s athletic development.
Growing up, Tate was exposed to football practices, coaching environments and training routines through his father.
Dean emphasized physical toughness, discipline and the importance of developing good character.
In a September 2022 interview published by University of Georgia Athletics, Tate recalled that he was considerably larger than many other children his age.
He sometimes felt uncomfortable because of his size, but his father encouraged him to recognize that his physical attributes could eventually become an advantage.
Football helped Tate become more confident and comfortable with his height and strength.
Dean also played an important role during his son’s college recruitment.
The Ratledge family had traditionally supported the University of Tennessee, and Dean frequently displayed Tennessee Volunteers symbols on his truck.
However, when Tate committed to the University of Georgia in May 2019, Dean supported the decision.
He removed the Tennessee decorations from his truck and replaced them with Georgia Bulldogs symbols.
During an interview with DawgNation, Dean explained that he wanted Tate to choose the university where he felt most comfortable and could develop as both a student and an athlete.
His willingness to support that decision became a memorable example of the family’s commitment to Tate’s future.
Mary Stuart Ratledge – Tate Ratledge’s Mother
Mary Stuart Ratledge is Tate Ratledge’s mother and an educator who has taught advanced placement history courses in Georgia.
She worked at Armuchee High School, teaching subjects including AP United States History and AP European History.
Mary Stuart has played an important role in supporting her son’s education and athletic development.
During Tate’s college recruitment in 2019, she explained that the family wanted him to choose a university based on his own goals rather than his parents’ football preferences.
Although the family had longstanding ties to the University of Tennessee, Mary Stuart supported his decision to attend Georgia.
She described her son as someone who took his commitments seriously and emphasized the importance of making a thoughtful decision.
Mary Stuart has also appeared in interviews discussing Tate’s childhood personality and eating habits.
In a DawgNation interview, she recalled that he particularly enjoyed peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches.
Because of his large size and demanding athletic schedule, preparing enough food for Tate became a regular part of family life.
During a September 2022 interview with University of Georgia Athletics, Tate praised his mother’s cooking and explained that he missed the large home-cooked meals he enjoyed before leaving for college.
Mary Stuart has continued supporting her son throughout his transition from Georgia football to the Detroit Lions.
Tate Ratledge’s Siblings
Tate Ratledge has one sibling, a younger sister named Emmaline Ratledge.
The family relationship is confirmed through official reporting published by Darlington School and Saint Mary’s Catholic School.
A 2024 school profile identified Dean and Mary Stuart Ratledge as the parents of two children, Tate and Emmaline.
Emmaline Ratledge – Tate Ratledge’s Younger Sister
Emmaline Ratledge is Tate Ratledge’s younger sister and a former high school athlete at Darlington School in Rome, Georgia.
Like her older brother, Emmaline developed an interest in competitive athletics during childhood.
She participated in several sports, including softball, basketball and track and field.
Her athletic involvement was highlighted in a 2025 Lions Wire profile published shortly after Detroit selected Tate in the NFL Draft.
The report described Emmaline as a talented multisport athlete who competed at Darlington School.
Her high school softball participation is also documented in MaxPreps records from the 2021 season.
Growing up, Tate and Emmaline were raised in a household where athletics and education were important priorities.
Their father worked as a physical education teacher and coach, while their mother pursued a career in education.
These family influences contributed to the siblings’ involvement in school sports.
Although Emmaline has received some attention because of her brother’s NFL career, she has generally maintained a private personal life.
Reliable public sources have not established extensive information about her current occupation, romantic relationships or other private activities.
Does Tate Ratledge Have a Brother?
No brother has been identified in reliable reporting about Tate Ratledge’s immediate family.
Official school profiles identify Tate and Emmaline as the two children of Dean and Mary Stuart Ratledge.
Therefore, Emmaline is his only publicly documented sibling.
Tate Ratledge’s Family Background and Childhood
Tate Ratledge was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and spent part of his childhood in the Athens, Tennessee, area before attending school in Rome, Georgia.
He grew up in a household where football and education were important parts of everyday life.
His father had played college football and spent decades working as a coach, providing Tate with early exposure to the sport.
Tate was unusually tall and physically strong from a young age.
Although his size sometimes made him feel different from his classmates, his parents helped him develop confidence and appreciate his athletic abilities.
He attended Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, where he became one of the nation’s most highly regarded offensive line prospects.
During high school, Ratledge competed in football, basketball and track and field.
He became particularly successful in the shot put, finishing third at the Georgia Class A Private State Championships in 2019.
His football performances attracted scholarship offers from several major universities.
Despite growing up in a Tennessee-supporting household, he committed to the University of Georgia in May 2019.
His parents supported the decision and celebrated his opportunity to play at the collegiate level.
Tate Ratledge’s College Football Career and Family Support
Tate Ratledge enrolled at the University of Georgia in 2020 and began developing into one of the Southeastern Conference’s leading offensive linemen.
His college career included several setbacks, particularly a serious foot injury during Georgia’s 2021 season opener against Clemson.
The injury forced him to miss the remainder of that season.
However, he returned in 2022 and became an important member of Georgia’s offensive line.
He helped the Bulldogs win the College Football Playoff National Championship following the 2022 season, adding another achievement to the program’s consecutive championship run.
Ratledge subsequently earned All-American and All-SEC recognition in 2023 and 2024.
His performances established him as one of the most accomplished offensive guards entering the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Detroit Lions selected him in the second round with the 57th overall pick.
The selection represented a significant achievement for Ratledge and his family, particularly his parents, who had supported his football development from childhood.
Ratledge started all 17 regular-season games at right guard during his rookie season in 2025.
He continued playing for Detroit during the 2026 season, wearing jersey number 69.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tate Ratledge’s Family
Who is Tate Ratledge’s wife?
Tate Ratledge’s wife is Annabelle Braden Ratledge, a former University of Georgia football recruiting specialist. The couple married in March 2026 after several years together.
Does Tate Ratledge have a girlfriend?
Tate Ratledge is married to his longtime girlfriend, Annabelle Braden. They became engaged on April 5, 2025, and married in March 2026.
When did Tate Ratledge get married?
Tate Ratledge and Annabelle Braden married in March 2026. Their public wedding registry listed March 7, 2026, as the wedding date.
Does Tate Ratledge have children?
As of now, Tate Ratledge has no publicly confirmed children. Reliable sources have not established that he has a son or daughter.
Who are Tate Ratledge’s parents?
Tate Ratledge’s parents are Dean Ratledge and Mary Stuart Ratledge. His father is a former college football player and longtime coach, while his mother has worked as a history teacher.
Who is Tate Ratledge’s father?
His father is Dean Ratledge, who played college football at Tennessee Tech from 1974 to 1977 and later pursued a career in education and football coaching.
Who is Tate Ratledge’s mother?
His mother is Mary Stuart Ratledge, an educator who has taught advanced placement history courses at Armuchee High School in Georgia.
How many siblings does Tate Ratledge have?
Tate Ratledge has one publicly confirmed sibling, a younger sister named Emmaline Ratledge.
Who is Tate Ratledge’s sister?
His sister is Emmaline Ratledge, a former Darlington School athlete who participated in softball, basketball and track and field.
Does Tate Ratledge have a brother?
No. Official school reporting identifies Tate and Emmaline as the two children of Dean and Mary Stuart Ratledge.
Where is Tate Ratledge from?
Tate Ratledge was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and grew up in Tennessee and Georgia. He attended Darlington School in Rome, Georgia.
What is Tate Ratledge’s full name?
His full name is Tate Collier Ratledge, according to his official University of Georgia football biography.
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.
