Jessie James Decker & Eric Decker Joke They Found True Love On A Match.com Free Trial: See Inside Their Real-Life Love Story

Jessie and Eric Decker opened up about how they met and detail their real-life love story.

By

Melinda Lorge

Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Music Mayhem, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.

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Posted on June 27, 2023

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Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker; Photos Courtesy of Instagram

Jessie James Decker and her husband, Eric Decker, have one of the most romantic love stories. The happily married couple just marked their tenth wedding anniversary this month, with Jessie honoring the special occasion on Instagram.

“10 years today my love✨ 6/22/13,” the country/pop singer and reality TV star captioned a photo from the lovebird’s wedding day.

Joked They Met On A Match.com Free Trial

During a recent sit-down interview on the Couple Things With Shawn and Andrew podcast, the Deckers’ celebrated conquering a decade of being husband and wife by looking back at how they first met. First, though, the pair showed off their sense of humor by tricking co-hosts Shawn Johnson and Andrew East into thinking they met on Match.com.

“We both were each other’s week trial, and it was instant. We both deactivated [our accounts],” Jessie, 35, insisted before Eric, 36, chimed in, “It was crazy. On a whim. I guess the same week decided we were both tired of the dating process.”

After catching a glimpse of the pair’s smirks, Johnson and East blurted out, “You’re lying,” to which Jessie admitted, “Just kidding!”

Real-Life Love Story: How Did Jessie James Decker And Eric Decker Meet?

Sharing their real love story, this time, Eric revealed he met Jessie through one of her good friends.

“What’s crazy about our relationship is that we were both in the same place [mentally]. We were going to be single for a long time,” Eric remembered how resistant he and Jessie were to wanting a significant other. “She had gotten out of a relationship. She was ready to be single. I was in kind of a long-term, up-and-down relationship. Then it was the lockout year, so I got to travel a bunch. I was thinking, ‘Wow, this is great. I get to travel and do my own thing. And she was on the road touring.”

“I was like, ‘I’m done with men,’” Jessie added. “I needed to figure myself out [and] I needed to get back to me. I’m lost here. I’m just going down a dark path. So I was like, ‘This year is going to be the year of Jessica and no men.’”

But, as some people say: love comes along when you least expect it. Such is the case for Jessie and Eric.

Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT

Met Through A Mutual Friend

At the time, Eric, a former wide receiver who had played on various NFL teams, was in Arizona training with his team. During his off-time, he and a friend who happened to be dating Jessie’s friend, Liana, went out.

“She’s like, ‘Hey, I got a friend for you,’” Eric said of Liana. “….I’m thinking she’s in town. Well, it’s Jess. She introduced us via text. I’ve heard of Jess before because of country music, and she’s been on the radio in Minnesota. I knew of her, but I didn’t know her. So I googled her. I was like, ‘Oh! She’s beautiful. Of course!”

“On my side, I’m on tour in Jacksonville for a show, and I’m just so pissed off about this bad date situation I had,” Jessie shared. “That’s when I had sworn off men. I was like, ‘I’m done.’ Liana texted me and said, ‘Let me set you up with someone. Don’t let this leave a bad taste in your mouth. I know so many great, amazing guys.’”

Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker; Photo Courtesy of CMA/ABC
Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker; Photo Courtesy of CMA/ABC

“The Most Beautiful Man I’ve Ever Seen”

She BBMs me a picture of Eric, and he is wearing blue jeans a white shirt, and he’s got his arms crossed and his legs kind of back in a chair looking at someone. I was just like, I melted [and] I was like, This is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. I just thought he was stunning. But I had a good feeling too. So I was like, ‘You can give him my number.’”

After their initial phone introduction, Eric and Jessie hit it off. So much so that Jessie says Eric was blowing up her phone.

“He’s sending me the lyrics of my songs…. He’s coming on so strong. It was a lot,” she laughed. “And he would text me all the time. He would call me all the time. And at one point, we realized, throughout our relationship, we’d been together three months. We realized he had never received an incoming call from me or a text message first. Because I would never text first, and I would never call first. I don’t chase. If you want me, you come get me.”

“And I did,” Eric confirmed.

Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker; Photo by Getty Images for CMT
Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker; Photo by Getty Images for CMT

Long-Distance Dating For Nearly Three Months

After dating long-distance for about three months, Eric decided he wanted to make things official. He invited Jessie to move in with him. But she had already promised to move to Los Angeles with her best friend.

“She got me a job doing makeup where she was doing makeup. So I was going to do that and work out there with some producers trying to figure out my next step,” Jessie shared. “She was like sending me videos of apartments. We were moving in together. And during this time, [Eric] was like, ‘You’re not doing that. I will lose you in LA. I know it. Move to Denver and live with me.’”

Got Married in 2013

Admitting she was falling for Eric, Jessie decided to make the leap to Colorado, and the pair has been going strong ever since. In fact, Eric proposed a year later in Las Vegas, Nev., in the couple’s hotel room ahead of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker and their kids; Photos Courtesy of Instagram
Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker and their kids; Photos Courtesy of Instagram

“I was actually really nervous. So it was our one year of being together. I thought it was very sentimental,” Eric shared plans to get down on one knee.

And, of course, she said ‘yes.’

Jessie and Eric tied the knot on June 22, 2013. The couple share three kids; a daughter named Vivianne Rose and two sons, Eric “Bubby” Thomas II and Forrest Bradley.

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Written by

Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Music Mayhem, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.

See more posts from Melinda Lorge

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