Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey and his wife, Sydney, are expecting their first child.
The couple announced the news in a joint Instagram post on Sunday, revealing that “Baby McConkey” is due in 2027.
In one photo, Ladd and Sydney smile while holding an ultrasound image toward the camera. Another shows the Chargers receiver kissing his wife as they display the ultrasound. The photo-booth-style post also includes a pair of excited close-ups celebrating the news.
The announcement marks the latest milestone in a relationship that began well before McConkey became an NFL standout.
Ladd and Sydney first met as children while traveling to basketball tournaments with their respective AAU teams. They briefly dated when they were in fifth and sixth grade before reconnecting in high school in Georgia in 2017.
Sydney previously recalled learning about Ladd’s childhood crush during a conversation over the messaging app Kik. After he admitted that he liked a girl from the basketball team, she persuaded him to reveal the mystery girl’s identity.
“He’s like, ‘Okay, you,’” Sydney recalled. “And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I like you too.’”
McConkey said he became certain about their future after they reconnected years later.
“I’d say pretty early on I knew, like, ‘Okay, you’re the one,’ in high school for sure,” he said during a recent couples video.
Sydney remained alongside McConkey throughout his career at North Murray High School, the University of Georgia and eventually with the Chargers. He proposed in July 2024, shortly after entering the NFL, and the couple married on April 12, 2025. Their wedding included former Georgia teammates Stetson Bennett and Brock Bowers.
The couple now lives in Southern California, where Sydney has pursued work in education and as a Pilates instructor.
When discussing what has kept their relationship strong, McConkey pointed to “communication, trust” and their ability to laugh together. Now, the longtime sweethearts are preparing for their next chapter as parents.
