Josh McCown, who is a grandpa, enjoys a blissful life with his wife and kids, only one of whom is still at home.
Josh McCown, the American professional football coach and former quarterback, began his coaching career while still playing.
He started as a volunteer quarterbacks coach for Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, North Carolina, during his time with the Hartford Colonials in 2010.
He later balanced playing for the Philadelphia Eagles while serving as the quarterbacks coach for Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2019.
In 2020, McCown was an assistant coach at Rusk High School in Rusk, Texas.
His official NFL coaching career began in 2023 when he joined the Carolina Panthers as the quarterbacks coach.
During his first season, he helped develop rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In February 2024, McCown was named the quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
The #Vikings have named Josh McCown as quarterbacks coach and Chris O’Hara as pass game specialist.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) February 27, 2024
📰: https://t.co/pwYvUiOGIM pic.twitter.com/Ls06I7tOYs
In addition to his coaching career, McCown had a long playing career, spanning 18 seasons in the NFL across 12 different teams, primarily serving as a backup quarterback.
He played college football at Southern Methodist University and Sam Houston State University before being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
Josh McCown can't stop playing football.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 6, 2020
At 41, he's signing with the Eagles' practice squad, according to @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/PbmrHnmm8q
McCown’s career included stints with teams like the Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans.
He also spent a season with the Hartford Colonials in the United Football League.
Josh McCown’s Wife, Natalie, Is A Ph.D. Holder
In contrast to his professional life, Josh McCown enjoys a low-key and blissful life with his wife, Natalie Ann Nelson, and their four children— Owen, Aiden, Bridget, and Aubrey.
While it is not known how the pair met or when they married, Natalie has been a steadfast supporter of Josh’s career.
She holds a Ph.D. in nineteenth-century African American literature and nineteenth-century Southern literature.
Natalie, originally from Dallas, Texas, now lives with her family in Rusk, Texas.
She celebrates her birthday on Christmas day, but her birth year is unknown.
Josh never misses an opportunity to show his admiration for his wife.
In one of his many appreciation posts dedicated to her, he wrote,
She holds it down for our fam 24/7.
Via INSTAGRAM
Couldn’t imagine this journey without you ❤️
Josh often posts pictures of the family on his Instagram, celebrating milestones and holidays and showing glimpses of their daily lives.
The family often attends football games and events, supporting whichever team Josh is coaching.
Josh and Natalie Are Grandparents
Bridget McCown is the oldest of the McCown children, born on August 8, 1998.
The 26-year-old attended Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and later attended the University of Tennessee, where she met her current partner and the father of her daughter, Cheyenne Labruzza.
She gave birth to Amaya June Labruzza on June 10, 2021.
Bridget’s brothers, Owen and Aiden, follow in their father’s footsteps and are pursuing collegiate football.
Aiden is a freshman quarterback at Lamar University, while Owen, born on February 13, 2003, is a quarterback for the UTSA Roadrunners after transferring from the Colorado Buffaloes.
Recently, Owen was named All-Texan Player of the Week for his incredible performance against North Texas.
Both brothers have shown great talent and potential on the gridiron.
Aubrey McCown is the youngest of the McCown children.
While there isn’t much public information about her, a post from Josh reveals that she is still in school and actively participates in the families’ footballing activities.
The McCowns have had to move multiple times due to the nomadic nature of Josh’s job.
In 2017, the family moved from Waxhaw, North Carolina, to Waxahachie, Texas, when Josh signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets.
They later moved to Charlotte in 2018 and to Rusk, Texas, in 2020.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Josh McCown’s brothers, Luke and Randy McCown, also played football. Luke played quarterback for several teams in the NFL, including the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints, while Randy played for the Houston Marshals in the Spring Football League and the Houston ThunderBears in the Arena Football League.
- Josh McCown didn’t initially see a future in football. At 16, he was only 5’4″. However, a significant growth spurt during his high school years helped him reach his current height of 6’4″, which played a crucial role in his football career.
- During his time as a high school coach, Josh McCown was known for his dedication to his players. He would even cook pancake breakfasts for them on Friday mornings before games.
