Bigger, faster, and stronger, that’s what Hall of Famer Julius Peppers is! But beyond his legendary athleticism and football career, the retired NFL player has a beautiful personal life behind the scenes. The Carolina Panthers‘ first draft pick of 2002 is married to his long-time partner, Claudia Sampedro, whom he met in 2014. Together, the couple shares three kids–one daughter and two sons.

Julius Peppers’ first son, Elijah Peppers, was reportedly born to his former girlfriend, Lia Ames. Whereas, his second son, Amare, was born to Claudia Sampedro on September 21, 2015. Initially, as per reports, Peppers denied being Elijah’s father. However, later on, Ames sued him in a Miami court, seeking legal recognition of his paternity. After nearly a year of legal battles, Peppers admitted he is Elijah’s father and is now legally recognized as such. As per the reports, Julius and Lia agreed on custody, support, and decision-making for Elijah, with Peppers paying $8,000 a month in child support. Now, despite the complexities, Julius and Claudia have successfully blended their families, and all the children reportedly get along well, living together most of the time.

After his retirement, Julius Peppers is often seen vacationing and attending parties with his entire family. This is evident from Peppers’ social media accounts, especially his official Instagram profile. His IG page is mostly dedicated to his family, showcasing moments from hiking in Colorado’s Aspen to getting ready for red-carpet events or enjoying a vacation in Wyoming. The couple shares happy family pictures from every visit and event. Besides these outings, Peppers has also taken his boys to NFL stadiums and facilities, perhaps hoping they might follow in his footsteps if they choose to.

In March, Peppers celebrated Elijah’s 10th birthday by writing an emotional note for him. He shared a birthday picture with his three children and a birthday cake on the table. Celebrating the big moment, he wrote, “He’s as tough and resilient as they come. He’s also as kind and thoughtful as they come, too.”

His other son, Amare, is also cherished by his parents. For Amare’s eighth birthday last year in September, Peppers shared a series of pictures of him enjoying time with his siblings, loving bonfires, the Rocky Mountains, cycling, and boating activities. Peppers wrote, “We’re so lucky to be his parents.”

Both sons share a close bond with their Panthers star dad. They even attended Tyreek Hill‘s The Soul Runner Speed Academy with him this May. Additionally, they took a picture with the Miami player, which Peppers later posted on his official IG.

Besides the two lovely sons, Peppers is also a father of a lovely daughter.

She is the perfect daughter Julius Peppers always wanted!

Daughter Keena Skye, who is 16-years-old, is the first child of Julius Peppers. And as it is said, the first child is very special for a parent. Similarly, for the NFL star, Skye is very special. This is evident from a post he shared on her birthday last year in May, when he wrote a lengthy emotional note for his daughter, alongside some beautiful pictures of the family. The 44-year-old expressed his gratitude and pride for his daughter, acknowledging how parents often complain about the teenage years, but she has made it easy for them. He even described her as “an old soul, full of wisdom, kindness, compassion, and courage.”

Peppers even admitted that he admires her certainty about what she wants and her determination to pave her own way. He further emphasized, “There are no words to describe how much you mean to us, you are everything I could have ever dreamed of in a daughter and more. You are the best big sister to your brothers. We are so proud of you and the young woman you are growing into.” The father also thanked her for being awesome, for keeping her innocence and warmth, and for making parenting so much fun. Peppers highlighted how she has impacted his life in ways she doesn’t even know and looked forward to seeing how she will continue to impact the world. What a lovely gesture and note for his baby daughter!

Currently, the entire family is out enjoying the Paris Summer ‘24 Olympics, and also took a mandatory family picture at the Eiffel Tower.