It’s not easy being a rookie in the NFL. You’ve got to find your bearings, hope you even get a chance to play, and then blow the spectators out of the water so they keep giving you more chances. Well, Jalen McMillan’s definitely made a good start on that front. The 22-year-old wide receiver made his debut this September for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Washington Commanders. He had just one reception that game, but in all fairness, it was a 32-yard touchdown pass. Hell of a way to start your NFL career.

McMillan’s a Fresno boy at heart, so that move to Tampa must have been heavy for the young man to deal with. Especially saying goodbye to his formidable mother, Belinda McMillan-Haener. We’re sure the time he spent away at the University of Washington helped, though. According to her LinkedIn, Belinda works as the Chief Operating Officer of the Ortiz Group, prior to which she was an administrative manager with the City of Fresno.

She’s also been a constant support to Jalen throughout, and she actively follows his games and cheers him on. You can basically check X 5 minutes after Jalen’s touched the ball and you’ll see her talking about it. With an education from the California State University, Fresno, she seems to work in close association with energy companies. She previously worked as an operations manager and then as a senior program manager for Pacific Gas and Electricity. She also has ties with the American Association of Blacks in Energy.

Sadly we don’t know much about his dad, even his name doesn’t seem to have come up in interviews or on social media. But Stefan Haener, Belinda’s current husband, and Jalen’s stepdad, seems to have been a positive and supportive cog in their life, too. He recently joined the Ortiz Group as well, as a program manager, but he used to manage a restaurant before. He’s not as active on social media as his wife, but when he does post, he’s usually talking about Jalen or one of his half-siblings—Lauren and Carter.

Who are Jalen McMillan’s grandparents?

Jalen McMillan grew up very close to his grandparents, and the loss of his grandfather still stings. Herle Gene McMillan passed away in August of 2022, but he lives on in Jalen’s heart and in his prayers. Before he played his first preseason game against the Bengals, he reportedly spoke to his “Opa” in prayer. In an interview with ESPN, he said “I talked to him and God, I just talked to him and asked him for strength. I told him to enjoy the show … to get his popcorn ready.” Cocky, but not undeservedly so.

His grandmother, his “Oma,” Angelika McMillan, still grieves her husband. After Herle passed away from lung and esophageal cancer, she moved in with Jalen in Washington to grieve. They supported each other through the pain and came out strong. When came the time for the opener against the Commanders, where Jalen caught that touchdown pass, she was in the stands. Having a grandparent who supports you till you find success, who gets to share in that success with you, that’s something special.