Who is Ja’Marr Chase dating in 2026? Inside his relationship, family life, and past headlines | NFL News
Who is Ja’Marr Chase’s girlfriend? That question got a real name in mid-2025, after a months-long guessing game around the Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver’s off-field life. Reports from People and Parade linked Chase to influencer Deja Nicole Hiott (also listed as Deja Nicole Hiott Johnson), who started posting couple photos and clips that made the “soft launch” feel pretty loud.This interest is not random. Chase is one of the faces of the Bengals and, as of March 2025, he also became the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver after agreeing to a four-year, $161 Million extension that averages $40.25 Million per year. Big money always brings bigger attention, even when the player stays quiet.
Deja Nicole Hiott has a life online, and she started letting fans see him in it
Multiple outlets describe Deja Nicole Hiott as an influencer and pilates instructor who has shared photos and videos with Chase on TikTok, including mirror selfies and travel posts. People reported she has supported him at Bengals games and that the two have been publicly linked since early 2025.Hiott has also been described as an entrepreneur. People reported she co-founded a skincare brand called DN Skin with her sister in 2020 and has worked with brands as an influencer.A separate July 2025 write-up from Where Is The Buzz leaned into the “viral moment” angle after one TikTok photo dump sparked heavy reaction online. That outlet’s tone is tabloidy, but it is part of why the couple trended outside football circles.
Ja’Marr Chase and Deja Nicole Hiott have kept it mostly private, but the timeline still got out
Chase and Hiott have not done a formal “yes, we are together” interview. That said, both People and Parade point to social posts in 2025 that made the relationship public-facing, with Parade noting the couple went “IG official” in June 2025. There is also some fan-sleuthing in the mix. Parade referenced a Reddit claim that they had been dating earlier than the public reveal, but that part is not confirmed by Chase or Hiott. If you’re wondering why this became such a repeat topic, it is simple: Hiott posts, Chase is famous, and the internet does the rest.
Ja’Marr Chase has a son, and old legal drama still follows his name online
Chase has a son from a previous relationship, which both People and Parade referenced while outlining his personal life.Parade reported the child is named Ja’Marr Amir Chase Jr. and tied the public awareness of his fatherhood to custody filings and support requests that surfaced in 2023. Coverage of that dispute also appeared in entertainment reporting, including The Blast, which described child support negotiations and court requests.Chase has also dealt with unrelated online drama tied to an Instagram model he accused of harassment after what he described as a one-night stand in July 2021, according to multiple reports. TMZ reported a judge granted Chase a temporary restraining order in August 2023.One reason this story keeps resurfacing is that it lives in screenshots and reposts, even when the football conversation has moved on.
