Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
Blake Gillikin is an American football punter who plays for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. Before joining Arizona, he played college football at Penn State University and began his professional career with the New Orleans Saints. Beyond his achievements on the field, many fans want to learn about Blake Gillikin’s family, wife, children, parents and siblings.
Born on January 21, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia, Blake Thomas Gillikin grew up in an athletic family. His parents, Walt and Taryn Gillikin, were both Division I college swimmers, while his twin brother, Tyler Gillikin, played college football at Northwestern University.
In his personal life, Gillikin is married to Alexandra Fleece, a Pilates instructor. The couple became engaged in November 2024 and married on May 22, 2026, in Charleston, South Carolina.
As of now, Gillikin continues his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals while maintaining close relationships with his wife, parents and twin brother.
Blake Gillikin’s Wife: Who Is Alexandra Fleece?
Blake Gillikin’s wife is Alexandra Fleece, a Pilates instructor who has been in a relationship with the NFL punter since at least January 2018.
Alexandra, also known as Alex, attracted national media attention when the couple announced their marriage in May 2026.
According to People magazine, Alexandra was 26 years old when she married Gillikin, who was 28 at the time.
She has worked as an instructor at Workshop Pilates, a fitness business offering Pilates classes.
Although her husband’s NFL career has made their relationship increasingly visible, Alexandra generally maintains a personal life centered on fitness, travel and family activities.
How Did Blake Gillikin and Alexandra Fleece Meet?
Blake Gillikin and Alexandra Fleece have been romantically linked since January 2018.
People magazine reported that the couple first made their relationship public on Instagram that month.
At the time, Gillikin was attending Penn State University, where he played as the Nittany Lions’ starting punter.
The couple continued dating as he completed college and began pursuing professional football opportunities.
However, the exact circumstances surrounding their first meeting have not been independently established through a detailed firsthand interview.
Although their relationship began during Gillikin’s college years, there is insufficient verified information to confirm precisely where they met.
When Did Blake Gillikin Get Engaged?
Blake Gillikin and Alexandra Fleece announced their engagement in November 2024.
The engagement was confirmed in a June 2026 report published by People magazine.
By that time, the couple had been together for more than six years.
Gillikin was playing for the Arizona Cardinals when they became engaged, having joined the franchise in October 2023.
The engagement marked another important milestone in a relationship that had continued throughout his college and professional football careers.
Blake Gillikin and Alexandra Fleece’s Wedding
Blake Gillikin married Alexandra Fleece on May 22, 2026, at Lowndes Grove in Charleston, South Carolina.
The wedding date and location are confirmed by the couple’s own wedding website and a June 4, 2026, People magazine report.
Lowndes Grove is a historic waterfront estate overlooking the Ashley River.
The couple selected Charleston because South Carolina held special meaning in their relationship.
On their wedding website, they described the state as a destination associated with happy memories and meaningful experiences together.
The ceremony featured several personal touches, including the couple’s grandmothers participating as flower girls.
Alexandra wore a white strapless wedding gown, while Blake wore a traditional black tuxedo.
After the ceremony, the celebration continued with a reception and an after-party at Uptown Social’s Hudson Room.
How Blake Gillikin Announced His Marriage
On May 29, 2026, Blake and Alexandra publicly announced their wedding through a joint Instagram post.
The post featured a photograph of the newlyweds taken by wedding photographer Mia Melin.
Gillikin expressed excitement about officially calling Alexandra his wife.
Several NFL players congratulated the couple, including Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland and New York Giants punter Jordan Stout.
The Arizona Cardinals also celebrated their punter’s marriage by sharing additional wedding photographs on the team’s social media account.
As of now, Alexandra remains Gillikin’s publicly confirmed wife.
Does Blake Gillikin Have Children?
Blake Gillikin has no publicly confirmed children.
Although his relationship and marriage to Alexandra Fleece have been documented by national media, reliable reporting has not established that the couple has welcomed a son or daughter.
Their May 2026 wedding received extensive coverage, but published reports did not identify any children belonging to them.
Likewise, Gillikin’s official Arizona Cardinals biography does not provide information about children.
As of now, no verified public announcement establishes that Blake Gillikin is a father.
However, this does not necessarily prove that he has no children. It means that parenthood has not been independently confirmed through trustworthy public sources.
Blake Gillikin’s Parents: Meet Walt and Taryn Gillikin
Blake Gillikin’s parents are Walt Gillikin and Taryn Gillikin.
Their names and athletic backgrounds are confirmed by Penn State University, Northwestern University and the Arizona Cardinals.
Both parents competed in swimming at the NCAA Division I level.
They raised their twin sons, Blake and Tyler, in the Atlanta metropolitan area of Georgia.
Growing up with two former college athletes helped the brothers understand the importance of discipline, education and athletic preparation.
Blake Gillikin’s Father: Walt Gillikin
Walt Gillikin is Blake Gillikin’s father and a former collegiate swimmer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
His athletic background is confirmed by the Arizona Cardinals’ official player biography.
Walt played an important role in introducing his sons to competitive sports.
In an October 2017 interview with StateCollege.com, Blake explained that his father had experience as a long snapper during high school.
That experience became useful when Tyler began developing his own long-snapping abilities.
Walt helped Tyler learn the position, allowing the twin brothers to practice punting and snapping together.
Those childhood practice sessions later contributed to both brothers earning college football opportunities.
How Walt Gillikin Supported His Sons’ Football Careers
Blake and Tyler began practicing football together while growing up in Georgia.
Because Blake specialized in punting and Tyler learned long snapping, the brothers were able to help each other develop.
According to a 2017 StateCollege.com interview, they frequently practiced inside their family home.
Their activities occasionally left marks on the walls and ceiling after footballs struck surfaces during practice.
Walt’s experience with long snapping helped the brothers improve their technique.
Although Blake eventually attended Penn State and Tyler enrolled at Northwestern, their father continued supporting both college football careers.
Their shared athletic experience became an important part of the Gillikin family story.
Blake Gillikin’s Mother: Taryn Gillikin
Taryn Gillikin is Blake Gillikin’s mother and a former collegiate swimmer at the University of Kansas.
According to Northwestern University’s official biography of Tyler Gillikin, Taryn was an All-American swimmer at Kansas.
Her sporting background helped establish a household where athletics and academic performance were highly valued.
Taryn supported both sons throughout their childhood and college football careers.
When Blake began attending Penn State University, she continued encouraging him to balance football with demanding academic responsibilities.
According to a March 2017 Penn State University profile, Gillikin credited both parents with teaching him effective time management.
Their guidance helped him succeed academically while competing in the Big Ten Conference.
Taryn Gillikin’s Special Jersey for Her Twin Sons
One particularly memorable example of Taryn’s support occurred in October 2017.
Penn State was preparing to face Northwestern, creating a rare opportunity for Blake and Tyler to compete against each other.
Because both sons played for different universities, the Gillikin family faced an unusual question about which team to support.
Taryn helped solve the problem by arranging a custom football jersey combining Penn State and Northwestern colors.
The jersey represented both universities, allowing family members to show their support without choosing one brother over the other.
According to interviews published by Onward State and StateCollege.com, other family members also wore specially designed jerseys.
The occasion became a memorable example of the close relationship between the Gillikin twins and their parents.
How Blake Gillikin’s Parents Influenced His Education
Walt and Taryn emphasized education throughout their sons’ childhood.
Both parents understood the challenges of balancing competitive athletics with academic responsibilities because they had competed in college sports themselves.
Blake continued applying those lessons after enrolling at Penn State University.
During his first full college semester, he earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
In a March 2017 interview with Penn State, Gillikin specifically credited his parents with teaching him the importance of creating schedules and organizing his responsibilities.
He eventually became a two-time first-team Academic All-American.
He also earned several university academic awards before graduating in 2020 with a degree in kinesiology.
Blake Gillikin’s Siblings: Meet His Twin Brother Tyler Gillikin
Blake Gillikin has a twin brother named Tyler Gillikin.
Their relationship is confirmed by Penn State, Northwestern University and the Arizona Cardinals.
Both brothers were born on January 21, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia.
They grew up together in Smyrna, Georgia, where they participated in several sports and developed strong academic interests.
Who Is Tyler Gillikin?
Tyler Brent Gillikin is Blake Gillikin’s twin brother and a former college football long snapper at Northwestern University.
Before joining Northwestern, Tyler attended The Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
During high school, he competed in football, basketball and track and field.
He played several football positions, including offensive tackle, tight end and defensive line.
Tyler was also recognized for his academic achievements, earning National Honor Society membership and Advanced Placement Scholar recognition.
After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Northwestern University.
He redshirted during the 2016 season before becoming a contributor on the Wildcats’ special teams unit.
He subsequently handled long-snapping responsibilities during his college football career from 2017 through 2020.
Why Tyler Gillikin Became a Long Snapper
Tyler’s development as a long snapper was closely connected to Blake’s interest in punting.
During their childhood, Blake regularly needed someone to snap footballs during practice.
Tyler initially helped by retrieving the ball after his brother’s kicks.
However, he eventually decided that learning long snapping would allow him to develop his own specialized skill.
In a 2017 interview, Blake explained that practicing with Tyler was particularly useful because the brothers already understood each other’s habits and communication styles.
The arrangement allowed Blake to practice with someone he trusted.
Over time, both brothers became talented enough to earn scholarships or roster opportunities at major college football programs.
Blake and Tyler Gillikin’s College Football Rivalry
One of the most memorable moments in the brothers’ athletic careers occurred on October 7, 2017.
That day, Penn State faced Northwestern at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois.
Blake was Penn State’s punter, while Tyler was Northwestern’s long snapper.
The matchup provided an unusual opportunity for twin brothers playing different special teams positions to compete against each other.
According to Onward State, Blake expressed excitement about reuniting with Tyler before the game.
The brothers shared an embrace and enjoyed the opportunity to compete in the same stadium.
Their family attended the game wearing custom jerseys combining the two schools’ colors.
Penn State won the matchup 31-7.
Tyler Gillikin’s Academic Interests
Like Blake, Tyler pursued a demanding academic program alongside college football.
Northwestern University’s official biography identifies his major as biological sciences.
Both brothers expressed an interest in medicine during their college years.
In a 2019 interview with The Daily Collegian, Tyler discussed how he and Blake hoped to pursue careers in healthcare after completing their football careers.
These interests reflected the emphasis their parents placed on education.
Although Tyler’s professional life has received less public coverage than Blake’s NFL career, his achievements in football and academics remain independently documented.
Does Blake Gillikin Have Other Brothers or Sisters?
Tyler Gillikin is the only sibling specifically identified in Blake’s official Penn State and Arizona Cardinals biographies.
Those records do not identify any additional brothers or sisters.
Therefore, Tyler is Blake Gillikin’s only publicly confirmed sibling.
Blake Gillikin’s Childhood and High School Career
Blake Thomas Gillikin was born on January 21, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia.
He grew up in Smyrna and attended The Westminster Schools, where he became an accomplished multi-sport athlete.
Gillikin participated in football, soccer and basketball throughout high school.
As a soccer player, he helped Westminster win the Georgia Class AA state championship in 2013.
He also contributed to the school’s runner-up finish in 2014.
In football, he developed into one of the country’s leading high school punting prospects.
During his senior season in 2015, he averaged 45.2 yards per punt and placed 19 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
He converted all 54 of his extra-point attempts that season.
Gillikin also established a school record with a 56-yard field goal.
His performances helped Westminster win the 2015 Georgia Class AAA state championship.
He eventually committed to Penn State University, where he would continue developing as a punter while pursuing a demanding academic program.
Blake Gillikin’s College Football Career at Penn State
Blake Gillikin joined Penn State in 2016 and immediately became the team’s starting punter.
During his freshman season, he averaged 42.8 yards per punt and helped the Nittany Lions win the Big Ten championship.
He continued performing consistently over the next three seasons.
In 2018, Gillikin averaged 44.0 yards per punt, setting a Penn State single-season record at the time.
He also earned first-team Academic All-America recognition.
During his senior season in 2019, he again received first-team Academic All-America honors.
By the end of his college career, Gillikin had become one of Penn State’s most accomplished punters.
He graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and summa cum laude honors.
His academic achievements included recognition as an Evan Pugh Scholar and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Blake Gillikin’s NFL Career
Blake Gillikin Joins the New Orleans Saints
After completing his college football career, Gillikin entered the 2020 NFL Draft.
Although he was not selected, the New Orleans Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020.
He spent his first professional season developing within the Saints organization.
In 2021, Gillikin became New Orleans’ starting punter and appeared in all 17 regular-season games.
He punted 83 times for 3,956 yards, averaging 47.7 yards per attempt.
He remained the Saints’ starting punter during the 2022 season.
After losing a preseason competition for the position in 2023, he was released by New Orleans.
Blake Gillikin Joins the Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals signed Blake Gillikin on October 3, 2023.
He quickly established himself as a reliable member of the team’s special teams unit.
During his first season with Arizona, Gillikin averaged 50.6 yards per punt, setting a single-season Cardinals franchise record.
He followed that performance by averaging 49.7 yards per punt in 2024.
His 2025 season was interrupted by a back injury after five appearances.
Nevertheless, he had averaged 51.7 yards per punt before being placed on injured reserve.
Blake Gillikin Returns to Arizona in 2026
Blake Gillikin agreed to a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals on March 9, 2026.
The agreement allowed him to remain with the team as its primary punter.
His return also coincided with an important personal milestone when he married Alexandra Fleece in May 2026.
During the first six games of the 2026 season, Gillikin recorded 28 punts for 1,265 yards, averaging 45.2 yards per punt.
As of now, he remains an active member of the Arizona Cardinals, wearing jersey number 12.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blake Gillikin’s Family
Who is Blake Gillikin’s wife?
Blake Gillikin’s wife is Alexandra Fleece, a Pilates instructor. They married on May 22, 2026, in Charleston, South Carolina.
Is Blake Gillikin married?
Yes. Blake Gillikin married Alexandra Fleece on May 22, 2026, at Lowndes Grove in Charleston.
When did Blake Gillikin get engaged?
Blake Gillikin and Alexandra Fleece announced their engagement in November 2024.
How long have Blake Gillikin and Alexandra Fleece been together?
The couple have been romantically linked since January 2018, according to People magazine.
Does Blake Gillikin have children?
As of now, Blake Gillikin has no publicly confirmed children. There is no reliable announcement identifying a son or daughter.
Who is Blake Gillikin’s father?
His father is Walt Gillikin, a former college swimmer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Who is Blake Gillikin’s mother?
His mother is Taryn Gillikin, a former All-American swimmer at the University of Kansas.
Does Blake Gillikin have a twin brother?
Yes. Blake Gillikin has a twin brother named Tyler Gillikin, who played long snapper at Northwestern University.
Who is Tyler Gillikin?
Tyler Brent Gillikin is Blake’s twin brother and a former Northwestern Wildcats football player who specialized in long snapping.
How many siblings does Blake Gillikin have?
Tyler Gillikin is Blake’s only publicly confirmed sibling. Official college and NFL biographies do not identify any additional siblings.
Did Blake and Tyler Gillikin play college football together?
No. Blake attended Penn State University, while Tyler played at Northwestern. Their teams faced each other in October 2017.
Where is Blake Gillikin from?
Blake Gillikin was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew up in Smyrna, where he attended The Westminster Schools.
When was Blake Gillikin born?
Blake Gillikin was born on January 21, 1998.
What NFL team does Blake Gillikin play for?
As of now, Blake Gillikin plays punter for the Arizona Cardinals, wearing jersey number 12.
Valentim Tereshkova is a sports journalist and NFL analyst specializing in team dynamics, scheme breakdowns, and league-wide trends. Covering everything from offseason roster construction and Draft developments to Sunday game plans and Super Bowl contenders, he delivers clear, sharp commentary on the gridiron. Valentim combines stat-driven analysis with a passion for football storytelling to give readers an expert look into the AFC and NFC.
