Eli Apple, an American professional football cornerback, is making back-to-back headlines, first for welcoming his daughter and now for signing with the San Francisco 49ers.
On July 27, 2025, former Miami Dolphins star Eli Apple was signed to the San Francisco 49ers.
Eli Apple’s new journey with the 49ers begins just a few months after he and his partner, Dena Namazi, welcomed their first child, a daughter named Anaya, together on January 24, 2025.
It seems like his baby mama, Dena Namazi, and daughter, Anaya, have become a lucky charm in Eli Apple’s life, as he is excelling in both his professional and personal life.
Furthermore, Eli Apple often expresses his love and appreciation for his baby mama, Dena Namazi, and regards her and their daughter, Anaya, as his biggest blessings.
While Dena Namazi prefers to maintain a low profile and hasn’t shared much about her professional and private life, Eli Apple often shares glimpses of his partner and the couple lives an adventurous life, travelling to different places.
Although it is unclear when Eli Apple and Dena Namazi began their romantic relationship, they first shared a picture on social media in early 2024, after a dramatic end to Eli’s relationship with former partner Destani.
Eli Apple Shares Son With Former Partner, Destani
49ers cornerback Eli Apple faced significant backlash from his ex and baby mama, an Instagram model named Destani, back in 2023.
According to Destani, their son, who was born in 2023, had a serious heart condition and urgently needed a blood transfusion.
Eli Apple baby momma is really offering to pay fines for anyone that injuries him is fkn wild!!!!
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) August 29, 2023
“Go for the knees or maybe a hammy”
She also has kids with Josh Jacobs & Geno Smith pic.twitter.com/onVZWGH6eA
She further added that there wasn’t a match for the procedure besides Eli Apple; however, according to Destani, he allegedly refused to donate the small amount of blood needed for their son.
Destani also claimed that she confronted him about his lifestyle, including reportedly having unprotected sex with different women while travelling for games, but Apple refused to help.
In a shocking accusation, Destani said that Eli even suggested it might be better to let the baby die due to his ongoing health issues. The child was born extremely early, at just 25 weeks, and weighed only 1 lb. 12 oz. Since birth, he has undergone two surgeries.
Fueled by anger, Destani took to social media, offering to pay the fines for any NFL player who injures Eli Apple during the 2023 season.
In her now-deleted post, she encouraged players to ‘go for the knees or maybe a hammy,’ referring to serious injuries like torn ligaments or hamstring pulls.
Destani’s social media post went viral in 2023, drawing the attention of millions. However, despite her numerous claims, Eli Apple has not released any statement regarding his son and has shared very little about him publicly.
Destani also has kids with two other NFL players, Josh Jacobs and Geno Smith.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Eli Apple was born on August 9, 1995, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a Ghanaian mother, Annie Apple. No information is available about his biological father.
- He was raised by his mother, Annie, and stepfather, Tim Apple, in Voorhees Township, New Jersey.
- Eli changed his surname from Woodard to Apple in 2012.
