Last Updated on September 30, 2026 by James
Jackson Gilman is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. Born on April 29, 2004, and raised in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, Gilman developed through the Philadelphia Union Academy before spending four seasons with the University of Pittsburgh. Toronto FC selected him in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, and he subsequently earned promotion from Toronto FC II to the first team.
Gilman comes from an athletic family. His parents are Steve and April Gilman, and he has one sibling named Kendall. His father was a Division I college baseball player, and Jackson has explained that sports and competition were prominent in his father’s family. Despite speaking openly about the influence of his parents on his athletic development, Gilman has kept his romantic life and other private matters largely outside the public spotlight.
Who Is Jackson Gilman’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Jackson Gilman has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend, wife or long-term romantic partner through reliable club, university or established media sources.
Most public interviews with Gilman concentrate on his development as a soccer player, his years with the Philadelphia Union Academy, his leadership at the University of Pittsburgh and his transition into professional soccer with Toronto FC.
Because there is no dependable public confirmation of a relationship, it would be inaccurate to identify someone as Gilman’s girlfriend based solely on social-media appearances or unsupported online claims.
Does Jackson Gilman Have Children?
As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that Jackson Gilman has children.
His official biographies from the University of Pittsburgh and Toronto FC do not identify him as a father. Gilman is still in the early stages of his professional career, and he has generally kept details about his private relationships away from his public football profile.
Who Are Jackson Gilman’s Parents?
Jackson Gilman’s parents are Steve Gilman and April Gilman. The University of Pittsburgh’s official athletics biography specifically identifies Jackson as the son of Steve and April and also provides details about his father’s athletic background.
Both parents played a role in helping Jackson find his path in soccer. Gilman has explained that his father introduced him to different sports when he was young, while his mother helped place him in the soccer environment that eventually led to his discovery by the Philadelphia Union system.
Steve Gilman – Jackson Gilman’s Father
Steve Gilman is Jackson’s father. According to the University of Pittsburgh, Steve played Division I baseball at UNC Asheville, making competitive college athletics part of Jackson’s family background well before his own soccer career.
Jackson discussed his father’s sporting influence in a 2026 interview about his journey to professional soccer. He explained that Steve had grown up in an athletic family and participated in several sports, including baseball, soccer and basketball.
Jackson also revealed that his paternal grandfather played baseball and that members of his father’s family participated in sports such as basketball, baseball and American football. Competition was therefore an important feature of the family environment in which Steve grew up.
That experience influenced how Steve raised Jackson. According to Jackson, his father introduced him to several activities while he was young and helped encourage the competitive mentality that eventually became important to his soccer development.
April Gilman – Jackson Gilman’s Mother
April Gilman is Jackson’s mother. Her identity is confirmed by the University of Pittsburgh’s official player biography, although considerably less information about her personal and professional life has been made public.
Jackson has nevertheless revealed one important moment involving his mother that helped change the direction of his soccer career. During his youth, April signed him up for a summer camp at YSC Sports in Pennsylvania.
Gilman was noticed there by a coach connected with the Philadelphia Union youth system. The coach approached Jackson and his family after recognizing his potential and invited him to begin attending Union Juniors training sessions.
That opportunity became an important stepping stone. Jackson eventually entered the Philadelphia Union Academy and spent six years within the organization before leaving for college soccer at Pittsburgh.
Who Are Jackson Gilman’s Siblings?
Jackson Gilman has one sibling named Kendall. The University of Pittsburgh’s official athletics biography directly confirms that Gilman has one sibling and identifies Kendall by name.
Unlike Jackson, Kendall does not appear prominently in established soccer coverage, and reliable public sources provide little information about Kendall’s age, career or personal life.
Because Kendall is not a prominent public figure, details beyond the publicly confirmed family relationship should not be assumed or taken from unverified social-media accounts.
Kendall Gilman – Jackson Gilman’s Sibling
Kendall Gilman is Jackson’s only publicly documented sibling. Pitt’s official biography provides Kendall’s first name but does not give further biographical details.
As of now, there is no reliable evidence showing that Kendall followed Jackson or their father Steve into high-level competitive sport. Most information about the Gilman family’s sporting background instead centers on Jackson and his father.
Jackson Gilman’s Athletic Family Background
Athletic competition appears to run through several generations of Jackson Gilman’s paternal family. His father played Division I baseball, his grandfather played baseball, and Jackson has said that his father’s brothers participated in multiple sports.
Jackson initially played both baseball and soccer himself. In his 2026 interview, he explained that those were his two primary sports while growing up before he eventually decided that his passion was strongest for soccer.
His decision represented a different sporting path from his father, but the competitive foundation remained similar. Jackson credited his father with encouraging that mentality and giving him opportunities to explore different sports before choosing soccer.
How Jackson Gilman’s Parents Helped Start His Soccer Career
Gilman began playing soccer at a very young age. A West-Mont United profile published during his childhood explained that he had been registered for recreational soccer at approximately three years old before eventually joining West-Mont United.
He progressed through West-Mont’s development structure and attended a summer camp at YSC Sports. Jackson later explained that his mother had signed him up for the camp without the family realizing how important it would become.
A coach associated with the Philadelphia Union youth setup recognized his potential during the camp and invited him into Union Juniors training. Gilman eventually earned a place in the Philadelphia Union Academy in 2016.
He spent six years with the academy and also appeared for Philadelphia Union II before entering the University of Pittsburgh in 2022.
Jackson Gilman’s Journey From Pittsburgh to Toronto FC
Gilman immediately became an important player at Pittsburgh. He started all 22 matches of his freshman season and earned ACC All-Freshman recognition while helping the Panthers reach the 2022 College Cup semifinals.
His leadership responsibilities increased quickly. Gilman became Pittsburgh’s captain as a sophomore and ultimately served as captain for three consecutive seasons from 2023 through 2025. He finished his college career with 75 appearances, including 74 starts.
Toronto FC selected Gilman with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. After participating in the club’s preseason camp, he initially signed with Toronto FC II.
His performances earned him several short-term first-team agreements and eventually his Major League Soccer debut. Toronto FC promoted Gilman permanently to the first team in May 2026, signing him through the remainder of the season with club options for future years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jackson Gilman’s Family
Who are Jackson Gilman’s parents?
Jackson Gilman’s parents are Steve Gilman and April Gilman. Their names are confirmed by the University of Pittsburgh’s official athletics biography.
Who is Jackson Gilman’s father?
Jackson’s father is Steve Gilman. Steve was a Division I baseball player at UNC Asheville and helped introduce Jackson to sports and competition from a young age.
Who is Jackson Gilman’s mother?
Jackson Gilman’s mother is April Gilman. Jackson has recalled that his mother signed him up for the YSC Sports summer camp where he was noticed by a coach associated with the Philadelphia Union youth program.
Does Jackson Gilman have siblings?
Yes. Jackson has one publicly confirmed sibling named Kendall.
Who is Kendall Gilman?
Kendall is Jackson Gilman’s only sibling according to his official University of Pittsburgh biography. Additional reliable biographical information about Kendall has not been publicly established.
Was Jackson Gilman’s father an athlete?
Yes. Steve Gilman played NCAA Division I baseball at UNC Asheville. Jackson has also described his father as a multi-sport athlete while growing up.
Who is Jackson Gilman’s girlfriend?
As of now, Jackson Gilman has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend or long-term romantic partner through reliable sources.
Is Jackson Gilman married?
As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that Jackson Gilman is married.
Does Jackson Gilman have children?
As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that Jackson Gilman has children.
James Horan is a football writer focused on the Premier League transfer market, covering confirmed signings, transfer rumors, and club strategies during the transfer windows.
