Post may include affiliate links, which may earn us a commission
Okay, let’s dish—because if there’s a love story worth talking about today, it’s Jeff Rohrer and Josh Ross! You’ve probably heard their names float around before, but if you haven’t, let me introduce you to this adorable (and history-making) power couple. On the surface, it might seem like they come from totally different worlds—Josh, the handsome and vibrant celebrity aesthetician from West Hollywood, and Jeff, the former Dallas Cowboys linebacker who was married for 17 years before coming out. But when these two met, sparks flew, and what started as a chance encounter in a WeHo restaurant became a journey neither of them could have predicted.
Picture this: Jeff, 65, was testing the waters of gay life—post-divorce, still half in the closet, and navigating life with two teenage kids. On the other hand, 42-year-old Josh was out and proud, dating his way through WeHo’s most eligible bachelors. Then, fate stepped in. They met in a Mexican restaurant (not even a gay one, mind you!), and the chemistry was undeniable. According to Josh, Jeff’s background as a Dallas Cowboys player gave the whole thing an almost magical energy—particularly for someone like Josh, who grew up in football-obsessed Texas. The age gap? The fact that Jeff had an ex-wife and kids? Not a dealbreaker. In fact, it only made things more interesting.
Now, we’re all friends here, so let’s be real—relationships like this don’t always come easy. But Jeff and Josh are proof that love can not only survive but thrive in the most unexpected situations. Their story has all the ingredients of a Hollywood romance: a football legend, a West Hollywood socialite, and yes, a 23-year age difference that somehow just works. In 2018, they made history when they tied the knot, becoming the first NFL player—past or present—to enter into a same-sex marriage. And as if that wasn’t enough, they’ve turned the idea of the modern family on its head.
+Related: Making Gay Age-Gap Relationships Last
How, you ask? Well, when they said “I do,” they didn’t just blend their lives—they blended their whole family. Jeff’s ex-wife, Heather, and their kids all live together under one roof. Forget any outdated ideas of “broken homes” here—this family is all about togetherness. Even Heather told People that they’re a better team united than apart. Talk about redefining the idea of family, right?
What makes their love story even more heartwarming is how Jeff’s coming out was received. Let’s not forget, we’re talking about a guy who played for America’s Team in the ’80s, when being gay in pro sports was pretty much unheard of. So, it’s no surprise Jeff was nervous about how people would react when he came out to his family, his friends, and, well, the world. But what happened? Pure love and support! Jeff was overwhelmed by the positive reactions he received from all sides of the aisle—left, right, married, unmarried, you name it. And while we could all have guessed the LGBTQ+ community would rally around him, the support he received from friends who knew him long before he came out was what really touched him.
As Jeff so perfectly put it in his recent interview with Queerty, “This says nothing about me, but I think it says something about our community.” And that’s really the heart of their story, isn’t it? This is about two men from wildly different walks of life—one a football legend, the other a proud gay man navigating the social scene of Los Angeles—coming together to create something truly special. They’ve built a life, a family, and a love that’s nothing short of inspirational.
And yes, while Jeff jokingly says that the attraction between them is because Josh has a thing for daddies (wink, wink), there’s clearly something much deeper here. It’s the love and respect that ties them together, and it’s what’s allowed them to navigate the complexities of their relationship—from the age gap to the blended family to the pressures of being in the spotlight.
So, here’s to Jeff and Josh, two fabulous men who continue to show the world that love knows no bounds—not age, not past relationships, not careers, and definitely not outdated expectations. Love is love, and these two? They’re living proof of that.