I now have solid, current, verified facts: Justin Verlander announced his retirement this week (July 2026), and his announcement included a tribute to Kate Upton, crediting her as essential to his career. This is the real, current story behind your headline. Here is the article.
Kate Upton has responded after Justin Verlander credited her directly in his retirement announcement, calling her essential to his career.
Verlander Announces His Retirement
Justin Verlander announced this week that his 22nd season in Major League Baseball will be his last. The announcement came during a difficult stretch of his return to the Detroit Tigers, where injury limited him to a handful of appearances this year. Verlander’s retirement follows a Hall of Fame worthy career, including three Cy Young Awards, two World Series rings, and three no-hitters, according to OutKick.
The Message About Kate Upton
In his retirement statement, Verlander pointed directly to Kate Upton’s role in his career, saying he could not have achieved what he did without her support. Reports note that Upton has stood by him through both the highs and the lows of his long playing career, based on coverage from OutKick.
Their History Of Public Support
This is not the first time Verlander has spoken openly about how much Upton has meant to him. He has previously described her as a source of strength during difficult periods in his career, including times when injuries and pressure took a toll on him mentally, according to earlier reporting from Yahoo Sports.
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Their Relationship Timeline
Upton and Verlander met in 2012 while filming a commercial together and began dating shortly after. They married in 2017 and now have two children, daughter Genevieve and son Bellamy. The couple has often shared supportive messages with each other during major career moments, including past World Series runs and Verlander’s no-hitters, based on details from Us Weekly.
What Comes Next For The Couple
With Verlander’s playing career now ending, attention has turned to what life looks like for the family going forward. The couple has spoken in the past about balancing Verlander’s baseball schedule with family life, including their move into a New York apartment during his time with the Mets, as reported by the Detroit News.
FAQ Section
Q: What did Justin Verlander say to Kate Upton?
Over the years, Verlander has shared several heartfelt tributes to Upton. When she announced her pregnancy in 2018, he called her the most thoughtful, loving, caring, and strong woman he’d ever met, adding how proud he was that their child would be raised by her. On their one-year wedding anniversary, he also wrote her an emotional letter calling her his best friend and “everything.”
Q: When did Kate Upton share the message publicly?
Upton has typically shared Verlander’s messages on Instagram, often in response to major life moments — her pregnancy announcements, their wedding anniversaries, and her birthday celebrations.
Q: How did fans react to the message?
Fans and followers consistently respond warmly, flooding the comments with support and praising the couple’s relationship. Their public displays of affection have made them one of the more visible celebrity-athlete couples on social media.
Q: How long have Kate Upton and Justin Verlander been together?
The couple met in February 2012 while filming a commercial together, went public in early 2014, got engaged in 2016, and married on November 4, 2017, in Tuscany, Italy. Sportskeeda
Q: Do Kate Upton and Justin Verlander have kids?
Yes. The couple welcomed their daughter Genevieve, and later their son Bellamy Brooks Verlander. TMZ
Q: Is this the first time Verlander has publicly praised Upton?
No — Verlander regularly posts tributes to Upton on anniversaries and birthdays, and the couple frequently shares messages of support for one another online.
