Inside NFL Player Kenny Pickett & Wife Amy Paternoster's Love Story

Pittsburgh Steelers chaplain Kent Chevalier officiated their nuptials.
Inside NFL Player Kenny Pickett's Love Story
Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
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Brittany Barber
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Brittany Barber
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Updated Jan 02, 2024

Ever wondered about NFL players' wives and relationships (beyond Jalen Hurts' girlfriend and Travis Kelce's ongoing romance with Taylor Swift)? Good news: the Pittsburgh Steelers' Kenny Pickett and his wife, Amy Paternoster, share a love story that NFL fans can easily swoon over. While Kenny Pickett's college days led to his success with the Pittsburgh Steelers, they brought forth more than just football glory; it was also when he first really connected with his wife.

Although they grew up in the same New Jersey town, their paths diverged until they ran into each other during a college break in 2021. Their romance blossomed quickly, culminating in a heartfelt proposal by Pickett in January 2022, less than a year after their first date. The summer of 2023 saw the couple sealing their love in a fairytale-like wedding in New Jersey, surrounded by 275 loved ones.

Their love story, detailed through Instagram posts and exclusive interviews, reveals the vibrant timeline of their relationship. From becoming Instagram-official to honeymooning in Puerto Rico, here's what we know about Pittsburgh Steelers player Kenny Pickett and his wife, Amy Paternoster.

  • Is Kenny Pickett married? Yes, to his wife Amy Paternoster (now Amy Pickett).
  • Pittsburgh Steelers' Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster grew up in the same town, but didn't connect until college.
  • Kenny Pickett proposed to his wife in January 2022, less than a year after they started dating.
  • Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster tied the knot on June 24, 2023 at Pleasantdale Chateau in New Jersey.

Who is Kenny Pickett's Wife, Amy Paternoster?

Like Pickett, Paternoster is a passionate sports lover and avid athlete. She played soccer growing up, in high school and at Princeton University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in economics and a certificate in finance. According to her Linkedin, she scored prestigious internships for investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Fund of Funds Private Equity at Ardian while she was in college. Now she works full-time as a private equity associate at PNC Riverarch Capital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Kenny Pickett's Wife, Amy Paternoster's Relationship Timeline

2010: Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster Meet

Kenny Pickett & Amy Paternoster
Photo: @kennypickett8 / Instagram

Pickett and Paternoster first met in their home town of Ocean Township, New Jersey. They crossed paths every now and then because they were both athletes as kids, but they didn't really connect until they were in college.

"We worked out at the same place growing up because Amy played soccer and I played football," Pickett said in an interview with People. "We started training at this place when I was like 12 years old and Amy might have been 10, so I knew her growing up from there. We never talked and then she went off to Princeton and I went to Pitt. We came home on a college break and saw each other at a party and hit it off."

April 2021: Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster Start Dating

Kenny Pickett & Amy Paternoster
Photo: @kennypickett8 / Instagram

In April 2021, Pickett posted a photo of the couple together on Instagram for the first time. He paired his photo with a caption that says, "Rumor has it," confirming that the two were indeed seeing each other. Paternoster posted a similar photo the day before, with a casual caption that says, "A little hey how ya doin."

January 2022: Kenny Pickett Proposes

Kenny Pickett Proposes to Amy Paternoster
Photo: @kennypickett8 / Instagram

On January 23, 2022, Pickett announced his engagement to Paternoster by posting an adorable series of photos to Instagram. He paired the snaps with a heartfelt caption that says:

"Got tired of calling you my girlfriend…here's to a lifetime with the person I cherish more than anything in the world. You make me a better person and I could not imagine life without you. I love you more forever and always!!"

Paternoster also posted to Instagram, sharing a carousel of pictures with a long caption expressing her gratitude for Pickett. "When I think of my life, I think of you - because I will never be able to go a day without you. I cannot put into words the love I have for you, but I promise to show you every day for the rest of my life.

I am so blessed to have found such a perfect man and to have the privilege of knowing, loving and sharing a life with you. You are my everything: my other half, my best friend, my soulmate. I promise to always be by your side - to always laugh with you, support you, and love you more each and every day.

I can't wait to experience all of Gods blessings with you, and to call you my husband! I love you more, forever and always."

She also included a quote from Corinthians in the New Testament: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

April 2022: Kenny Pickett Is Drafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Kenny Pickett joins the Pittsburgh Steelers
Photo: @amypickett_ / Instagram

When Pickett was drafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Paternoster was by his side, nothing short of supportive. She even shared a celebratory IG post, praising his accomplishments and explaining how proud of him she is.

May 2022: Amy Paternoster Graduates From Princeton

Amy Paternoster Graduates
Photo: @kennypickett8 / Instagram

Like Paternoster, Pickett turned to Instagram to celebrate his bride-to-be's achievements. When she graduated from Princeton, he shared a photo of the two of them together with a caption that says, "HUGE congratulations to @amypaternoster on graduating from Princeton today!!! Most athletic and smartest…only thing I can hold onto is the height! 😂❤️."

March 2023: Paternoster & Pickett Enjoy a Joint Bach Party

Paternoster & Pickett Enjoy a Joint Bach Party
Photo: @kennypickett8 / Instagram

Instead of doing two separate trips, Pickett and Paternoster gathered their friends and family and went to the Bahamas for a conjoined bachelor and bachelorette party. Pickett posted some fun pics of the occasion to his Instagram account in March 2023.

June 2023: Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster Marry

The couple tie the knot
Photo: @amypickett_ / Instagram

In an interview with People, Pickett opened up about his wedding to Paternoster. "I knew when I first started dating Amy that I wanted to marry her," he recalled. "Now that the day is here, it's really special to get to spend the rest of your life with the person that means the world to you."

They tied the knot at Pleasantdale Chateau in New Jersey in front of 275 guests on June 24, 2023. They had a Christian ceremony, where the couple lit a unity candle. Paternoster told People, "As cheesy as it sounds, I can't wait to marry him and have that moment between us. Of course, the party is going to be awesome celebrating with your loved ones, but you only get married once and go through the ceremony once so I'm looking forward to having that moment with Kenny."

July 2023: Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster Honeymoon in Puerto Rico

Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster Honeymoon
Photo: @kennypickett8 / Instagram

Pickett and Paternoster jetted away to Puerto Rico for their honeymoon. You can see them enjoying their time on the beach, exploring waterfalls and watching the sunset together on both Pickett and Paternoster's IG accounts.

Amy Paternoster and Kenny Pickett's Wedding Details

Amy Paternoster and Kenny Pickett's Wedding
Photo: @amypickett_ / Instagram

In an exclusive interview with People, Paternoster and Pickett share the details about their wedding. They had a Christian ceremony in front of 275 guests at the Pleasantdale Chateau in New Jersey. "It was a fairytale venue where your jaw drops when you walk in," Paternoster told People. "So we knew we had to have it."

Paternoster looked stunning in a long, off-shoulder wedding dress, which was created by designer Galia Lahav. It trailed behind her as she walked down the aisle to "Can't Help Falling in Love."

Since sports have played such a crucial role in both Pickett and Paternoster's lives, they incorporated elements of it into their special day. "As we've both grown up in the sports world, especially more with Kenny with Pittsburgh and football, he's acquired great friendships along the way, as have I." "It was important for us to take core people from each stage of our lives and have them there to celebrate with us," Paternoster told People. In the spirit of that sentiment, the couple had Steelers chaplain Kent Chevalier officiate their nuptials.

They also had a Steelers ice sculpture and a marlin ice sculpture among their food stations. Speaking of food, the couple put an emphasis on their menu at their wedding, making sure there were plenty of options for their guests to graze on. Paternoster explained that they had a "sushi bar, raw bar, lobster bar, Italian station, pasta station, rib-eye carving station, and an ahi tuna loin station," and added, "On my mother's side I'm Cuban, so we also have an old Cuban dish called Ropa Vieja." They served even more at the after party, including pizzas, burgers, tacos and desserts. Along with photographs, the couple commemorated their special day by hiring artist Cody Sabol to paint them live during the reception.

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