Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is set to become a married man after proposing to soccer star girlfriend Laney Matriano.
In a heartwarming joint post on Instagram, Egbuka and Matriano announced they are now engaged after the NFL rookie popped the question in a romantic setting on the beach.
He can be seen getting down on one knee in front of a sign that read, ‘Will you marry me Laney?’, which was surrounded by a display of flowers and candles.
After embracing her new fiance, Matriano also shows off her new gold wedding ring in one of the snaps.
It is unclear how long the couple have been dating for, with their first photo on social media together appearing to come in May 2025.
Matriano, a women’s soccer player for the University of Notre Dame, also shared a picture of herself wearing Egbuka’s Ohio State jersey at the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game in January of last year.
Bucs rookie Emeka Egbuka (left) got engaged to girlfriend Laney Matriano (right) this week
The couple’s first photo together was shared in May, but it is unclear how long they’ve dated
‘Everything we prayed for and more,’ she wrote as the caption on their joint engagement post.
Egbuka will hope the engagement comes on a successful weekend on and off the field as the Bucs gear up for a pivotal Week 18 showdown with the Carolina Panthers.
It is winner takes all in Tampa on Saturday as both sides battle it out for top spot in the NFC South, with the Atlanta Falcons’ game against the New Orleans Saints later in the day also highly significant.
For the 7-9 Bucs, as well as a win over the 8-8 Panthers, a Saints victory against the Falcons is required for them to wrap up a fifth consecutive division title.
Egbuka, who was selected with the 19th overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft, has enjoyed a satisfying rookie year so far after registering 62 catches for 930 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 16 appearances.
At college level, the Buckeyes star departed as Ohio State’s career receptions leader after putting up 205 in 60 games for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns.
