During Saturday night’s SEC Championship game between Georgia and Texas, many college football fans found themselves captivated by more than just the action on the field. ESPN reporter Ashley ShahAhmadi, 32, stole the show during the broadcast, but it wasn’t long before fans discovered she’s officially off the market.
ShahAhmadi, an Emmy Award-winning sports journalist, appeared at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to host the Dr. Pepper Halftime Challenge, where two students competed for a $100,000 scholarship by chest-passing footballs into a giant Dr. Pepper can.
However, while the competition unfolded, viewers were laser-focused on ShahAhmadi’s on-screen presence. Dressed in a chic sleeveless brown top and matching miniskirt, she quickly became the subject of viral attention.
Social media buzzed with admiration. “I love you. Marry me?” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, “I need you in my life.” But the excitement soon turned to disappointment when a particularly observant fan zoomed in on her left hand during the broadcast, revealing her engagement ring and wedding band.
“After replay assistance, I am devastated,” one fan lamented in a post, accompanied by the incriminating image. Others shared their heartbreak, with one writing, “Heart breaker,” and another simply exclaiming “NOOOOOOOOOOO” in all caps.
For those hoping ShahAhmadi was single, the news came as a letdown: the ESPN reporter is happily married. She got engaged to her husband, Tyler, in February 2023 and tied the knot later that year in October.
The couple also shares their home with two beloved fur babies, as seen on ShahAhmadi’s Instagram.
A University of Georgia graduate, ShahAhmadi joined ESPN in 2023 and has quickly become a rising star at the network. According to her ESPN bio, she covered the 2024 NBA playoffs as a reporter for ESPN Radio, focusing on the Minnesota/Dallas series. Before that, she honed her skills at Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta, working as a TV host and reporter for NBA coverage.
While fans may be disappointed to learn that ShahAhmadi is spoken for, her professional achievements and on-air charisma continue to shine.
Whether she’s reporting on college football or the NBA, ShahAhmadi has firmly established herself as one of sports media’s rising talents.
