“Who does?” Amy Weida Karlaftis said this when asked if she ever envisioned this day her son, George Karlaftis, playing in the Super Bowl. Drafted in 2022, Karlaftis achieved his dream of winning two consecutive Super Bowls in 2023 and 2024 with the Chiefs. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that his journey to the league is truly inspiring! But, who are the people that made him the man he is today? What happened to his father? Let’s get into it

Who are George Karlaftis’s parents?

Matthew and Amy Karlaftis are the parents of George Karlaftis. His dad was an academic and former athlete, and his mom was a straight-up baller from Indiana. With parents like that, it’s no shocker that George turned out to be a beast on the football field.

Who is George Karlaftis’s mother?

Amy Karlaftis (née Smith) is the mother of George Karlaftis. She grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana, and she was that girl when it came to sports. She hooped, swam, and played volleyball, and she wasn’t just decent—she was elite. Even left high school as the all-time leading scorer in basketball. Then she hit up Purdue, met Matthew, and the rest was history. The two got married and moved to Greece to start their family.

Life was vibing until 2014 when tragedy hit—Matthew passed away from a sudden heart attack. Amy had to make the toughest call ever, packing up and moving her four kids back to Indiana for support.

Being a single mom to four kids? That’s Hall of Fame-level strength. Amy locked in, made sure her kids were good, and never let them fold under pressure. She saw George’s insane potential and always had his back, pushing him to chase his dreams no matter what.

Who is George Karlaftis’s father?

Matthew Karlaftis was the father of George Karlaftis. He is the definition of a dual-threat—smart and athletic. Born and raised in Greece, he was a track and field star and even played some football at the University of Miami. But life had other plans—he suffered a serious head injury, and just like that, his football dreams were over. Instead of sulking, he pivoted and secured a PhD in civil engineering, proving he was that dude academically too.

He built a solid career as an associate professor at the National Technical University of Athens, making waves in his field. But just as he was about to get tenure—a major W in the academic world—he tragically passed away at 44. Losing his dad at 13 was a gut punch for George. In Greek culture, the eldest son is supposed to step up as the man of the house, and even though he was just a kid, George took that role seriously.

Here’s the crazy part—Matthew wasn’t even rocking with football like that because of how dangerous it was. But when George finally gave it a shot, it was game over. His raw talent was unreal. Amy once spilled that when George got his first sack, he turned around and asked, “What do I do now?” Bro had no clue what just happened, but it didn’t take long for him to figure out he was him. Football became his whole world, and he went all in.

One of the wildest things? His mom found a list of goals he had tucked away in his drawer. Some were casual, like “Get a girlfriend in high school,” but others were straight-up ambitious, like “Go to the Nike Opening.” The grind was real, and fast-forward to today—he’s living his dream in the NFL.

What nationality are George Karlaftis’s parents?

Matthew Karlaftis was 100% Greek, and Amy Karlaftis is American. George grew up in Greece before moving to the U.S., so he’s got the best of both worlds. That mix of cultures shaped his entire journey, from a kid who barely knew football to a Super Bowl-winning edge rusher.

Now when George takes the field for his games, his family is there to support him, but the absence of his father is deeply felt. But Amy believes that every time George makes a big play, like a sack, he’s thinking of his dad, as ‘he looks up, and that drives him for sure.’