Last Updated on October 2, 2026 by Miguel Manjate
D.J. Taylor’s family has remained an important part of his life as the American soccer player built a career from his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, to Major League Soccer with Minnesota United. Born David Justin Taylor on August 26, 1997, Taylor developed through the North Carolina FC youth system before beginning his professional career and eventually establishing himself with the Loons.
Away from soccer, Taylor is married to Mercedes Taylor, a former college soccer player who has represented Puerto Rico internationally. He also has a much younger brother named Ethan, whom Taylor has repeatedly mentioned when discussing his family and his desire to inspire younger players. Information about D.J. Taylor’s parents is more limited because they have largely remained outside the public spotlight. As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that Taylor and his wife have children.
Who Is D.J. Taylor’s Wife?
D.J. Taylor’s wife is Mercedes Taylor. The couple married during the offseason ahead of the 2023 MLS season after being together for several years.
Minnesota United officially confirmed the marriage in Taylor’s player biography, describing Mercedes as his longtime girlfriend before the couple tied the knot.
Taylor has also spoken warmly about his wife. In a profile with Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities, he named Mercedes as a major positive influence in his life, explaining that she consistently encourages him to become the best version of himself.
Who Is Mercedes Taylor?
Mercedes Taylor has a soccer background of her own. During her college career, she played under the name Mercedes Fisher for Greensboro College in North Carolina.
In 2018, Greensboro College announced that Mercedes had been selected to represent the Puerto Rico women’s national team during Concacaf Caribbean Women’s World Cup qualifying.
She later continued her soccer journey beyond college and has also been publicly known as Mercedes Bauzá.
Having both experienced competitive soccer, Mercedes and D.J. share a connection to the sport that extends beyond Taylor’s MLS career.
When Did D.J. Taylor and Mercedes Get Married?
D.J. Taylor and Mercedes married on December 30, 2022.
During a Minnesota United feature about his offseason, Taylor explained that he proposed after returning home and that the couple became engaged before getting married on December 30.
Greensboro College also documented the marriage through its alumni news, reporting that Mercedes Bauza married David Taylor on December 30, 2022.
Taylor later said the couple were planning a larger honeymoon, potentially involving a trip to Europe or Jamaica.
D.J. Taylor and Mercedes Taylor’s Relationship
D.J. Taylor has kept many details about the beginning of his relationship with Mercedes private. However, by the time they married, the relationship was already described by Minnesota United as a long-term partnership.
Mercedes has since become involved in some of Taylor’s community activities in Minnesota. Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities reported that the couple participated together in a fashion-focused event connected with Taylor’s mentoring work.
Taylor has publicly described Mercedes as someone who supports his personal growth as well as his professional career.
Does D.J. Taylor Have Children?
There is currently no reliable public information confirming that D.J. Taylor and his wife Mercedes have children.
Minnesota United’s current player biography confirms Taylor’s marriage but does not identify him as a father. Other recent public profiles involving Taylor and Mercedes similarly do not mention a son or daughter.
As of now, no children have been publicly documented through reliable sources.
Who Are D.J. Taylor’s Parents?
D.J. Taylor has frequently mentioned his family and his close connection to his hometown of Raleigh, but the names of his mother and father have not been widely published by reliable sports sources.
ABC11 reported that Taylor spent time living at home with his parents and younger brother during the early stages of his professional career. Minnesota United interviews have also included stories about his mother and his childhood.
Because Taylor’s parents are private individuals, it is better not to attach names to them without reliable confirmation.
D.J. Taylor’s Mother
Although D.J. Taylor’s mother has not been publicly identified by name in major club profiles, Taylor has shared several memories involving her.
In a Minnesota United interview, he recalled that when he was younger, he and his mother had a tradition of eating riblets at Applebee’s.
Taylor later joked that his younger brother had taken over that tradition with their mother after he moved away from North Carolina.
The story offers a rare glimpse into Taylor’s family life and shows the close relationship he maintained with his mother while growing up in Raleigh.
D.J. Taylor’s Father
D.J. Taylor’s father has maintained an especially private profile. Reliable Minnesota United and North Carolina FC sources do not publicly identify him by name or provide details about his occupation.
Reports about Taylor’s early career describe his parents collectively as part of the family environment he returned to whenever he was back home in Raleigh.
Without stronger public documentation, additional claims about his father would be speculative.
Who Are D.J. Taylor’s Siblings?
D.J. Taylor has a younger brother named Ethan. Ethan is the only sibling who has been clearly identified in established media coverage about the Minnesota United player.
D.J. Taylor’s Younger Brother – Ethan
Ethan Taylor is D.J. Taylor’s much younger brother. When ABC11 interviewed D.J. after his move to Minnesota United in 2021, Ethan was nine years old.
Taylor explained that one of his motivations for playing professional soccer was to inspire young people, especially his younger brother.
Two years later, Minnesota United reported that Taylor used part of his offseason to return to Raleigh and spend time with his then-11-year-old brother.
The significant age difference means D.J. was already pursuing professional soccer while Ethan was still a child, allowing the Minnesota United player to serve as an example for his younger sibling.
How Important Is Ethan to D.J. Taylor?
D.J. Taylor has mentioned his younger brother several times when discussing why returning home to Raleigh is important to him.
When Taylor moved from North Carolina FC to Minnesota United, leaving Ethan and the rest of his family behind was one of the biggest adjustments.
In an interview with Urban Pitch, Taylor explained that moving away was more difficult than expected because he had spent several years living close to his family, friends and younger brother after returning from Spain.
Whenever his schedule allows, Taylor has continued returning to North Carolina to reconnect with his family and the soccer community in which he grew up.
Does D.J. Taylor Have Other Brothers or Sisters?
No additional siblings have been reliably identified in major public sources reviewed for D.J. Taylor’s family.
Ethan is consistently described as Taylor’s younger brother, but that does not necessarily establish that he is D.J.’s only sibling. Because Taylor has not published a complete family biography, it is safer to identify Ethan as his only publicly documented sibling rather than claim that no others exist.
D.J. Taylor’s Childhood and Family Background
D.J. Taylor was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. Soccer became an important part of his childhood, and he eventually entered the academy system that is now associated with North Carolina FC.
His path to becoming a professional footballer was unusual because he left the United States as a teenager to continue his development in Spain.
Taylor played with CF Torre Levante and later Buñol before returning to North Carolina in 2017.
Coming home allowed him to resume his professional career while living close to his family. He eventually established himself as North Carolina FC’s starting right-back and was named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.
D.J. Taylor’s Family During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic gave Taylor an unexpected opportunity to spend extended time with his family.
ABC11 reported in 2020 that the defender was staying at his Raleigh home with his parents and younger brother while professional soccer was suspended.
Taylor used the period to continue training, work toward a marketing degree and spend time with the people closest to him.
That period came shortly before one of the biggest changes of his career, as Minnesota United signed him in February 2021.
D.J. Taylor’s Move Away From His Family in Raleigh
Joining Minnesota United required Taylor to leave the hometown environment that had surrounded him during his years with North Carolina FC.
He later admitted that moving away from Raleigh was harder than he initially expected. Taylor had previously spent time living in Spain, but after returning to North Carolina, he had grown accustomed to being surrounded by family and friends.
His younger brother was particularly important to him, and Taylor has continued visiting Raleigh during offseason breaks whenever possible.
His personal life also developed after moving to Minnesota, with Mercedes eventually becoming his wife and joining him in activities within the Twin Cities community.
D.J. Taylor and His Wife Share a Soccer Connection
Soccer is not simply D.J. Taylor’s profession. His wife Mercedes also played the sport competitively.
As Mercedes Fisher, she played college soccer for Greensboro College and earned selection to Puerto Rico’s women’s national team in 2018.
Her international opportunity came during qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Greensboro College celebrating her achievement as an important milestone for its women’s soccer program.
That shared experience as competitive players gives the couple a distinctive connection to the sport.
Who Is in D.J. Taylor’s Family?
D.J. Taylor is married to Mercedes Taylor, a former Greensboro College soccer player who represented Puerto Rico internationally. The couple married on December 30, 2022, following a long-term relationship.
Taylor also has a much younger brother named Ethan, whom he has described as an important source of motivation. His mother and father have supported him while maintaining private lives, and their names have not been clearly established through reliable public sports sources.
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that D.J. Taylor and Mercedes have children. Taylor continues to maintain strong connections with his family in Raleigh while building his professional and personal life in Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions About D.J. Taylor’s Family
Who is D.J. Taylor’s wife?
D.J. Taylor’s wife is Mercedes Taylor, also known through her soccer career as Mercedes Fisher and Mercedes Bauzá. She played college soccer at Greensboro College and represented Puerto Rico internationally.
Is D.J. Taylor married?
Yes. D.J. Taylor is married to his longtime partner Mercedes.
When did D.J. Taylor get married?
D.J. Taylor and Mercedes married on December 30, 2022, during the offseason before the 2023 MLS season.
Was D.J. Taylor’s wife a soccer player?
Yes. Mercedes played college soccer for Greensboro College and was selected to represent the Puerto Rico women’s national team in 2018.
Does D.J. Taylor have children?
There is currently no reliable public information confirming that D.J. Taylor and Mercedes have children.
Who are D.J. Taylor’s parents?
D.J. Taylor has publicly discussed his parents and has spent significant time with them in Raleigh, but their names have not been reliably published in major official soccer sources.
Who is D.J. Taylor’s mother?
D.J. Taylor has spoken affectionately about his mother and shared childhood memories involving her, but he has not widely publicized her name.
Who is D.J. Taylor’s father?
D.J. Taylor’s father has maintained a private life, and reliable club and media profiles do not clearly identify him by name.
Does D.J. Taylor have a brother?
Yes. D.J. Taylor has a younger brother named Ethan.
Who is D.J. Taylor’s brother?
D.J. Taylor’s younger brother is Ethan. D.J. has described inspiring Ethan as one of the motivations behind his professional soccer career.
Does D.J. Taylor have other siblings?
Ethan is the only sibling clearly identified in reliable public coverage. No additional brothers or sisters have been publicly confirmed.
What is D.J. Taylor’s real name?
D.J. Taylor’s full name is David Justin Taylor.
Where is D.J. Taylor from?
D.J. Taylor was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on August 26, 1997, and developed through the North Carolina FC youth system.
What team does D.J. Taylor play for?
D.J. Taylor plays for Minnesota United FC in Major League Soccer. He originally joined the Loons from North Carolina FC in 2021.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
