Inside Derek Carr's Marriage to Heather Neel Who Is Also Mom of Their 4 Children

From sharing a conversation in a restaurant during their college days to sharing four kids, American quarterback Derek Carr and his lovely wife, Heather Neel, have been married for ten years. The faith-filled couple put prayer and their belief in the bible at the forefront of all they do.

Carr has been playing in the NFL since 2014, when he got drafted by the Oakland Raiders as the 36th overall pick. His career in the big time got off to a fast start, and he quickly became a fan favorite amongst his team's faithful fanbase. In 2022, Carr's strong performances were rewarded with a $125.5 million three-year contract.

His personal life has also enjoyed much success, albeit with a few hiccups along the way. Derek has a long-term relationship with Neel, whom he met at university and married in 2012. They have been blessed with four children but faced difficulties with their first child when he suffered a life-threatening condition right after birth.

Derek Carr's Wife Is Known as a Mom and Influencer

Heather Ashley Neel is known as the wife of an NFL star in sporting circles, but on her own, she is a social media influencer who has amassed over 56k followers on Instagram. Her posts are mainly centered on her family and her Christian faith.

Neel was born on January 3, 1990, in Fresno, California. She attended Fresno Christian High School before furthering her education at Fresno State University. Neel said she and her husband might get into ministry after Carr retires from football.

The two met at Fresno State. Neel was working as a waitress at BJ's Brewhouse when Carr came to her workplace, and they began a conversation. From that conversation, it was clear that Carr was interested in Neel, but she doubted his intentions and decided to give him the wrong number.

Derek Carr Makes a Tribute to His Wife

In January 2022, the Raiders quarterback decided to take some time out from his busy life to celebrate his wife, the mother of his four children. He did so by sharing a picture of his wife with their kids and a caption that read, "Happy birthday to our queen. I love you!"

She was not planned, but the Lord just blessed us with her. He always knew I wanted a baby girl.

Carr had not shared a photo of his wife on his Instagram for over six months. The last post showed the family's trip to T-Mobile Arena to watch the Las Vegas Knights in June 2021.

The Couple Has 4 Children Together

Neel and Carr welcomed their first son, whom they named Dallas, in August 2013. Not long after, Carr became a professional with the Raiders, a team including former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams; they welcomed another son, Deker, born in March 2016.

The third boy of the family came three years later in 2019, the year that the Raiders organization moved from Oakland to Las Vegas. After their move to Las Vegas, their fourth and last-born child arrived in November 2020, a daughter they named Brooklyn.

Her mother said, "She was not planned, but the Lord just blessed us with her. He always knew I wanted a baby girl." This statement from Neel sums up her life. She is very spiritual and believes that her family and life have been a fantastic gift from God. Her husband has a bible verse tattooed on his left wrist.

Hard Times after First Child Born

Although there was much celebration after the arrival of Dallas, the joy had to be muted after a potentially tragic ending loomed large on the horizon. The subsequent days after Dallas's birth were difficult for the young couple.

Dallas had been born eight days early with a life-threatening condition called intestinal malrotation. Three surgeries had to be performed to correct the intestines that were tangled. The inexperienced first-time parents had to lean on their faith to help them through that difficult phase. Neel recalled asking God for a sign.

"I remember Dallas was sleeping and he woke up and he winked at me and I was like 'Thank you, Lord! This is the sign I needed that we're going to get through this."

Children Cheering Up Their Dad

After the miraculous full recovery of Dallas, Neel was back in the stands to support her husband, this time with one more little fan. Now that the family has expanded, Neel still finds the courage and strength to take all her young children to her husband's game, where they can be spotted rallying behind their famous father.

For example, in a game in September, the Carr family converged at the Allegiant Stadium to cheer on their star man and his team. All the kids were available to show their love.

The children were all dressed in the team's fan wear. The youngest and only girl, Brooklyn, wore an adorable gray dress with a big Raiders logo visible on the front of the dress. That is not the only time they have been seen having their father's back. The tight-knit family usually travels to various other events and occasions together.

Derek Carr and Heather Neel have not always had it easy from their dating days to their marriage years, but they have remained committed to their faith. From college sweethearts, the couple has since amassed a lot of wealth and been blessed with four children. All of which they are highly grateful to God for.