Darius Leonard Girlfriend: All About Kayla Sanderson!

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Kayla Sanderson is the wife of the famous American football star Darius Leonard who plays for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. The NFL star first set his eye on her in kindergarten class, after which he never stopped pursuing her till he first made her his girlfriend and eventually his child’s mother.

One of the best linebackers in the current NFL scene Darius Leonard has suffered a little setback this season because of a series of injuries. 

He was placed on injured reserve on November 12, 2022, because of his back injury.

Many people find it fascinating how Darius quickly progressed from being the second-round NFL draftee to one of the most outstanding linebackers in the league.

But his love story is even more intriguing.

Darius Leonard Baby Momma And Kid
Darius Leonard Baby Momma And Kid (Source: Andscape)

The evergreen sweethearts courted each other since the time they had no idea about what love was and eventually tied the knot in 2018.

To learn more about Kayla and her almost dreamlike love story, please read this article right up to the end.

In addition, we shall discuss Kayla’s early life, career, kids, and much more exciting stuff in the article below.

But before hopping into the more incredible details, let’s check out some quick facts about the love of Darius’s life, Kayla Sanderson.

Darius Leonard Girlfriend | Quick Facts

Full Name Kayla Michelle Sanderson
Date of Birth 1994 
Birthplace Lake View, South Carolina, United States
Nickname Kay
Religion Christianity
Sexual Orientation Straight
Father’s Name Timothy Sanderson
Mother’s Name  Aimee Sanderson
Gender Female
Profession Teacher
Famous as Darius Leonard’s wife
Nationality American
School Lake View High School (Lake View, South Carolina)
College • Florence Darlington Technical College (Florence, South Carolina)

• Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina)

Height 1.67 meters/5 feet 6 inches/167 cm
Weight Not Available
Eye Color Blue
Hair Color Dark Brown
Body Type Chubby
Favorite Sports Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, and Football
Marital Status Married
Spouse/Husband Darius Leonard (m. 2017-Present)
Kids  Two Daughters (Mia and Laila)
Siblings Two Sisters (Taylor and Carson)
Zodiac Sign  Not Available
Net Worth Not Available
Social Media Instagram, Twitter
Merch of Darius Leonard Signed Jersey
Last Update March 2024

Darius Leonard Girlfriend | Early Life & Education

Kayla Michelle Sanderson was born in 1994 to her parents, Timothy and Aimee Sanderson, in South Carolina, United States.

Sanderson, whom her family and close ones call Kay, grew up in the small town named Lake View with her two sisters, Taylor and Carson.

She did her primary level schooling in a local private school before she attended Lake View High School for high school education.

Kayla Sanderson and her father Timothy (Source: Instagram)
Kayla Sanderson and her Father, Timothy (Source: Instagram)

Like her other two sisters, Kay was bright in her studies and excelled academically. Aside from course studies, Kay was athletic and enjoyed playing ball games.

She liked all sorts of games, mostly volleyball, softball, and basketball.

After high school graduation, Sanderson briefly attended Florence Darlington Technical College. She later went to Claflin University in Orangeburg and played softball for her college team.

Kayla graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Performance and Recreation studies from the University. 

Darius Leonard Girlfriend | Career

After college, Kayla started working as a ninth-grade algebra teacher in a private school back in her hometown in South Carolina.

She had taken up that tiresome job to support herself and Darius, who was away in Tampa at that time preparing himself for the upcoming NFL draft.

Kay continued doing her teaching job even after she and Leonard got married.

However, she later came to live with her husband after she got pregnant with their first girl. What she is doing now remains unknown.

Darius Leonard Girlfriend | Age & Body Measurements

According to Fabwags, Kayla was born in 1995, a year before her husband Darius, so she is currently in her late twenties.

Regarding her physical features, Kayla has become chubbier than in the past. As Darius has gained some muscles because of his routine workouts, the couple looks perfect whenever they show up together.

Kayla is taller than the average American woman and stands approximately 1.67 meters (5 feet 6 inches) tall. 

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Darius Leonard Girlfriend | Her Life With The NFL Star

Beginning of a Relationship

Born and raised in the small town of Lake View, Kayla and Darius attended the same kindergarten as kids. It was probably in the late nineties when they began their companionship.

Kayla remembers that they were probably 5 or 6, Darius was slightly younger, and they were in the same class.

They learned their lessons, played games, and took pictures together.

As time passed by, Darius began developing feelings for her. The most striking thing for him about her was her blue eyes. 

He did not know it was love until they reached middle school. When they were in the sixth grade, he approached her for the first time with his proposal, but she rejected him.

Darius Leonard And Kayla
Darius Leonard And Kayla Before The Game of South Carolina State University (Source: Instagram)

However, the interaction between the two never stopped. The two always corresponded as friends, often hung out, and went out to watch many local ball games together.

In fact, like Darius, Kayla, too, had extraordinary athletic abilities, so they talked about each other’s games, achievements, and everything the two were passionate about at that time.

Eventually, while they were in their eleventh grade, something unexpected happened. While Kay and Darius were at their friend’s house for a party, she asked him out, which he accepted immediately.

After that event, they never separated. The two began a romantic relationship, happily ending up in marriage after around seventeen years of dating.

Marriage

Like every lover on Earth, Darius wanted Kayla to marry and be with him for the rest of his life. On the other hand, Kayla, too, was sure Darius was the only man in her life whom she deemed fit to be her life partner.

Kay always dreamed of getting married in a big ceremony with all the close ones and her friends beside her.

Darius Leonard and Kaylaa at their wedding (Source: Instagram)
Darius Leonard and Kayla at their wedding (Source: Instagram)

However, they could not wait much longer. After some weeks of the NFL draft, the two wed without any arrangement.

While Darius was in his workout dress, Kay was in her school teacher’s uniform as she had directly headed to the wedding spot from work.

Still, they were happy that their love life had reached a milestone, and it was the beginning of the following important chapter of their life together.

Much later in 2019, the couple rehosted their marriage ceremony in attendance of their family members, friends, and close ones, but it was grand this time.

Kids

The Colts linebacker and his wife Kay have two beautiful daughters.

Darius Leonard and Kayla (It's A Girl!)
Darius Leonard and Kayla (It’s A Girl!) (Source: Instagram)

Their first daughter, Mia, was born on March 29, 2019. About two years later, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Laila, on June 4, 2021. 

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About Darius Leonard

As already cleared above, Darius Shaquille Leonard, famous as Darius Leonard, plays for the NFL team Indianapolis Colts.

Leonard was born on July 27, 1995, to his parents, in Nichols, South Carolina, as one of his mother’s nine children.

His parents divorced while he was still a kid, so his mother raised him as a single mother.

He is a younger brother to the former American professional football player Anthony Waters.

Darius attended Lake View High School in South Carolina and played football for its team.

Before starting his NFL career, he was a college football player for the South Carolina State Bulldogs.

Darius Leonard with the Indiana Colts (Source: Stampede Blue)
Darius Leonard With the Indiana Colts (Source: Stampede Blue)

After the NFL draft, Darius signed a four-year contract worth $7.24 million with the Indianapolis Colts on July 23, 2018.

Darius has already appeared in four seasons for the Colts and is one of the team’s most trusted linebackers in the ongoing 2022 season.

The player has recorded over 530 tackles and ten interceptions in four league season matches.

Net Worth & Philanthropy

One of the highest-paid Indianapolis Colts athletes, Darius Leonard, has a net worth somewhere between $60 million and $70 million. However, the number is not official yet.

Although his overall earnings from the NFL are just about $15 million, Darius increased his net worth after signing a new five-year contract worth nearly $100 million on August 2021.

Besides his league earnings, Darius makes a good amount of money through endorsement deals with brands such as Monster Energy drinks, Bose Corporation, etc.

Leonard and his wife, however, do not spend all this money on personal luxuries. They established a non-profit organization named the Maniac Foundation in 2020, named after Darius’s nickname.

According to the foundation’s website, its main aim is to help transform communities through education and financial and moral assistance to troubled, needy families and charities.

Darius Leonard Girlfriend | Social Media Presence

Kayla Leonard is active on all major social media platforms, mainly Instagram and Twitter

She has an Instagram with the username @kaylamleonard and has over 7.7k followers as of this writing. She mostly posts her family photos.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by KAYLA LEONARD (@kaylamleonard)

Likewise, her Twitter (@kayy_michelle_) has around 675 followers as of this writing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Did Darius Leonard change his name to Shaquille?

“Shaquille” is Darius Leonard’s middle name. Until the end of his fourth NFL season, Leonard was okay with media reporters and people around him calling him by his first name.

However, he requested everyone to refer to him as Shaquille on July 26, 2022. So, it is not actually like he changed his name.

How tall is Darius Leonard?

Darius Leonard is about 1.88 meters (6 feet 2 inches) tall.

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Yaman Bhattarai
Yaman Bhattaraihttps://playersbio.com/

Yaman Bhattarai

Yaman Bhattarai is a dedicated writer with a keen interest in exploring the multifaceted world of sports. His articles offer readers a dynamic blend of insightful analysis, captivating storytelling, and cultural commentary that enriches their understanding of the athletes, events, and trends that shape the sporting landscape.

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With a background in writing and a passion for sports as a cultural phenomenon, Yaman approaches each article with a blend of curiosity, rigor, and creativity. He seeks to inspire, educate, and entertain readers through his exploration of the timeless themes and enduring legacies that define the world of sports.

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