“Sometimes, my rookie year, I was called Beaver a lot ‘cause I went to Oregon State.” But let’s be real—not everyone needs a nickname, especially not someone like Blake Brandel. At 6’6″ and 315 pounds, he’s hard to miss! Drafted as the No. 203 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Blake rolled into a huge class of players for the Vikings. He kicked things off on the practice squad. But quickly showed he was ready for prime time, stepping up as a jumbo tight end under Klint Kubiak’s offense in 2021.

Fast forward to now, and he made his debut as an LG. And boy, can we talk about his performance against the Giants? A statement! It took Skol Nation a few seasons to fully grasp his potential. But his wife, Natalie, always had his back. She’s been there every step of the way, believing in him when the rest of us were still figuring things out. Questioning the decisions. But no, not Natalie!

Who is Natalie Brandel?

Like many NFL wives, Natalie’s often spotted rocking her hubby’s Vikings shirt, making sure to be present in the stands. But that’s not where her story ends. She’s got her own game plan, chasing her passions while making sure she was there for Blake’s journey from the beginning.

Natalie studied at the University of Oregon (yep, the same place Blake went—talk about a meet-cute). She’s got a degree in Public Relations and Media Studies, and she’s been killing it since graduating in 2019. She worked with brands like SOREL and Fan Girl Clothing, climbing the social media and marketing ladder like a pro. And let’s not forget her time as Vice President of Administration at Pi Beta Phi—pretty impressive, right?

When not hustling, Natalie and Blake are spending time with their two dogs, Benny and Minne, or maybe working on a puzzle together. Plus, she’s a fan of beverages and drinks. Oh, now, that can never go wrong, can it? Guess that’s one of the reasons why the two have stuck together with each other since 2016!

When did Blake Brandel & Natalie get married?

Yes! You read that right. The first snap of Natalie and Blake Brandel hit social media on March 28, 2016, way before they tied the knot! After dating for five years, the couple said “I do” on March 24, 2021. Ah! Guess they must hail March just for the love it gave them two.

Talk about a love story that’s been brewing since middle school! That crush of hers blossomed into a beautiful partnership that’s still going strong. And let’s be real, Natalie’s a super fan—like, we all saw that coming, right? But now, she’s not just rocking the ‘Brandel #64’ shirt solo anymore. The couple recently announced they were expanding their roster! Natalie shared the exciting news with the world in December 2023: “Baby Brandel Coming 2024.” Fast forward to May 29, 2024, and baby Robert Brandel made his grand entrance.

Now, it’s the blonde-haired lady in the stands, baby in arms, hooting and nervously watching for her Vikes guard. For Blake Brandel, that’s what he’s fighting for on the gridiron—his cute little family.