Just who is Heather Neel? Learn more about the better half of her marriage with New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr.
Who Is Heather Neel?
Neel grew up in Fresno, California. She attended Fresno Christian High School and then Fresno University and was a cheerleader at both.
While attending the same college, Neel and Carr didn’t meet until the quarterback went to his future wife’s waitressing gig at BJ’s Brewhouse. Neel got money to pay for college and her husband at the restaurant.
These days, Neel is a mother and wife. She is also a social media model and influencer, posting mostly on her Instagram. Carr’s wife mostly posts photos of her family on and off the gridiron.
Derek Carr and Neel’s Marriage
Zach Wilson seeing Derek Carr is in town and hoping Heather (Neel) Carr, who is 10 years older than Zach and a mother x4, will stop by: https://t.co/rLxP6qB2jD pic.twitter.com/ZInByCUUG2
— Josh (@jdfergie) February 17, 2023
The couple has a cringy start to their love story. This is hardly surprising, considering who Neel’s husband is.
Brace yourselves, but this was Carr’s cheesy pickup line:
“I had like diamond earrings in my ear and I had them both, I knew I did. And he said, ‘Why are you only wearing one earring?’ And it made me check my ears. And I was like, ‘that’s your pick up line?’ (It worked) it did work. I talked to him.”
Gross.
It gets cringier.
Heather Neel Carr #NFL Derek Carr’s Wife https://t.co/xRqfgnimK3 #wags pic.twitter.com/cgmZSBjOxk
— FabWags (@mvalle888) January 12, 2018
Carr did the whole “this woman is going to be my wife” shtick. In an interview with Neel, she dishes more about the beginning of their relationship and reports that Carr said:
“I wanted to show her off to my friends because she was so beautiful. They wouldn’t believe me. I’m texting this girl. She’s so beautiful. I’m gonna marry this girl. And they would laugh at me. We hadn’t even hung out yet.”
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There’s not a lot of detail between the couple meeting and marrying, which might be for our benefit.
The Carr Family
Carr married wife Heather Neel in June, 2012. Description from larrybrownsports…. New Events – https://t.co/cLkDE3IKtY pic.twitter.com/9o4HSr10Cw
— New Events (@NewEvents5) November 5, 2017
On June 29, 2012, the couple became the Carrs. Neel was a lucky charm from the start, with the quarterback having his best college seasons post-nuptials.
They’ve had four children in the last 11 years. Their first three children are the boys Dallas, Deker, and Deakon. Brooklyn Mae is their only girl and the most recent addition to the family.
Besides a health scare with Dallas when he was a baby, the children have been healthy. The eldest Carr child had intestinal malrotation at birth, requiring three intestine surgeries over several weeks when he was a newborn.
While Carr was the starting quarterback for the Raiders for nine seasons, the couple were neighbors with head coach Jon Gruden. That feels incredibly awkward, all things considered.
Since being transferred to the Saints, the family of six has settled in the Pelican State.
Neel is a constant support for Carr, caring for the children and the home while her starting QB husband throws himself into the demanding football schedule each year.