Joshua Karty is forever grateful to his parents! “ I’m beyond fortunate for my mom and dad who have taught me, most importantly, how to be a good person,” NFL kicker earlier retreated. It indeed reflected his deep regard and sentiments when he joined Stanford, in January 2019. The Rams selected Joshua Karty with a No. 209 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 207 pounds, he is known for his powerful leg. Even before the NFL, Karty had a phenomenal career at Stanford. And, behind his journey as he made a solid name in the world of professional football, his parents, Joel and Valerie Karty, have played an elemental role.

Who Is Joshua Karty’s Dad, Joel Karty?

Joel Karty, Joshua’s father, is a well-rounded individual, who has not just excelled academically, but athletically as well. A Stanford University alumnus, he has a PhD in physical and organic chemistry. Earning his B.S. in chemistry from the University of Puget Sound, he later enrolled for Ph.D. at Stanford University and began teaching at Elon University in 2001.

At Elon, Joel teaches primarily organic chemistry and general chemistry and also teaches physical chemistry. He has authored multiple books in the realm of organic chemistry.

But even beyond this, he did not limit himself to the laboratory. He was also an accomplished rower for Stanford’s rowing team. And, indeed this instilled a sense of athleticism in Joshua, pushing him into the world of high-stakes sports.

Growing up, Karty never thought he would end up in the NFL, and thought that soccer was his end game. “I always thought I would end up being a professional soccer player,” he shared. But, it seems that destiny has something else in mind. But, despite this, both his mom and dad have

Who is Joshua Karty’s mom, Valerie Karty?

Reflecting on his parents’ Stanford connection, Joshua Karty talked about his family history adding, “My family has a little bit of history with Stanford. My dad went to graduate school there and my mom met my dad at Stanford’s campus.” Not just Joshua’s dad, but even his mother, Valerie Karty, has a significant Stanford connection. Valerie met Joel at Stanford, as sparks flew between them, tying knots eventually.

A special moment that truly holds a special place is when Valerie announced her pregnancy in Stanford’s football stadium. Karty adds, “My mom told my dad that she was pregnant with me inside of Stanford’s football stadium.”

The Karty family initially had a strict “No football rule.” But, Karty began to show prowess in soccer and had even convinced his mother for the kicker role. He said, “Mom, I know I’m not allowed to play football, but there’s this position called a kicker, where you’re not allowed to be hit.” Valerie even had early intuition about his skills, as she remarks, “I should have known when I was eight months pregnant, and he kicked me to the floor.”

Both Joel and Valerie have been supportive of his career choices, which indeed has helped him to achieve the best!