Laura Rutledge Husband: Inside Her Marriage to Josh Rutledge

Laura Rutledge is familiar to millions of sports fans as one of ESPN’s most recognizable faces, but away from the television studio, her life revolves around a family she has built with her husband, Josh Rutledge.

Interestingly, sports played a role in bringing them together long before Laura became such a familiar presence on college football and NFL coverage. Josh had his own career in professional sports, spending several seasons as a Major League Baseball infielder before eventually moving into business and real estate.

The couple first met at a college football tailgate in Alabama, married a little more than two years later, and have since welcomed two children. Their relationship has developed alongside major career changes for both of them, making Josh far more than simply “Laura Rutledge’s husband.”

Here is a closer look at Josh Rutledge, his baseball background, his marriage to Laura, their children and what he has been doing since leaving professional baseball.

Who Is Laura Rutledge’s Husband?

Laura Rutledge is married to Josh Rutledge, a former Major League Baseball player who later moved into financial services, real estate and the automotive business.

Josh grew up in Cullman, Alabama, where baseball became an important part of his life from an early age. He played the sport in high school and was part of a state championship team during his senior year. His performance also earned him recognition as Alabama’s Class 5A Player of the Year.

His success eventually took him to the University of Alabama, where he continued playing baseball while studying at the school.

For Laura and Josh, Alabama would become especially important for another reason. It was also where they eventually met.

Although their careers went in very different directions, both remained closely connected to sports. Josh played professional baseball while Laura developed her career in broadcasting and sports journalism.

That shared understanding appears to have helped them handle careers that often required unusual schedules, travel and long periods away from home.

Josh Rutledge Played Major League Baseball

Before beginning his post-baseball business career, Josh Rutledge spent years pursuing professional baseball.

He attended the University of Alabama beginning in 2007 and played college baseball there. His performances eventually attracted the attention of Major League Baseball scouts.

The Colorado Rockies selected Rutledge in the 2010 MLB Draft. He left college after three years to begin his professional career, entering a world that involved frequent travel, changing teams and the challenge of moving through the minor league system.

Rutledge reached the major leagues in 2012 with the Rockies.

Primarily an infielder, he went on to appear for several organizations during his professional career. In addition to Colorado, Rutledge played with the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox.

His time in professional baseball lasted several years before his playing career eventually came to an end. After spending time in the San Francisco Giants organization, he retired from baseball in 2018.

Leaving professional sports can be a major adjustment for athletes who have spent most of their lives training and competing. Rutledge, however, soon began developing a different professional path.

He also returned to complete something he had left unfinished when baseball came calling.

In 2019, Josh graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree, nearly a decade after being drafted. He publicly celebrated the achievement and thanked his wife, family and friends for supporting him.

How Did Laura Rutledge and Josh Rutledge Meet?

Laura and Josh’s story began in a setting that feels almost perfectly suited to a sports couple: a college football tailgate.

They met in 2011 while attending a football game at the University of Alabama.

Laura has previously recalled arriving at a random tailgate where she happened to meet Josh. What might have been an ordinary Saturday surrounding a college football game ultimately became the beginning of their relationship.

Years later, the couple returned to the same tailgate where they had first crossed paths.

Laura shared the moment publicly when marking five years since they met, explaining that they even managed to find the same tent where their story started.

Their meeting also happened during an interesting period in both of their lives.

Josh was beginning his journey through professional baseball, while Laura was establishing herself professionally and would soon receive greater public attention after winning the Miss Florida title.

Their careers were only beginning to take shape, meaning much of their relationship developed while both were navigating major professional changes.

When Did Laura Rutledge Get Married?

Laura Rutledge and Josh Rutledge married on December 7, 2013, roughly two years after first meeting.

Their wedding came while Josh was still playing professional baseball and Laura was developing her broadcasting career.

Over the years, Laura has occasionally shared memories from their wedding, including photographs from their ceremony and reception.

When they celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary, she reflected on everything that had changed since the day they married.

By then, they had experienced professional success, career transitions, parenthood and countless family moments together.

Laura described Josh as her best friend while looking back on their first decade of marriage, noting that two children and plenty of adventures had become part of their story.

The couple’s relationship has largely remained separate from the type of celebrity attention that sometimes surrounds well-known television personalities. Instead, the public glimpses they share tend to focus on family milestones, sports and everyday experiences.

Laura and Josh Rutledge Have Two Children

Laura and Josh are parents to two children, daughter Reese and son Jack.

Their daughter Reese was born in October 2019.

Becoming parents introduced a completely different chapter into their marriage, and Laura has occasionally offered fans glimpses of family life while continuing to handle her busy broadcasting schedule.

A few years later, Laura revealed that Reese would become a big sister.

Their son Jack arrived in May 2023.

Jack’s birth had special meaning for the family because Laura previously revealed that she had experienced a miscarriage in 2021. She later spoke about how meaningful it was for the couple to welcome another child and for Reese to have a younger sibling.

Laura also shared how excited Reese was about becoming a big sister, explaining that her daughter was already talking about the things she planned to teach her baby brother.

Later in 2023, Jack faced a health challenge that required medical care. Laura told followers that he had a lengthy recovery ahead of him but was expected to fully recover.

Through these family moments, Laura has sometimes allowed viewers to see another side of her life beyond the polished world of television sports broadcasting.

Josh Rutledge Has Supported Laura’s ESPN Career

While Josh was experiencing the demands of professional baseball, Laura was building an increasingly prominent career in sports media.

She went from winning the Miss Florida pageant in 2012 to becoming a respected sports reporter and television host.

Laura eventually became closely associated with ESPN’s football coverage, including her role with NFL Live.

The couple’s separate experiences inside the sports industry appear to have given them an unusual understanding of one another’s work.

Laura has spoken positively about Josh’s support throughout her career, especially when it came to assignments involving college football and college baseball.

She has also explained that having individual careers while understanding each other’s professional environments helped their relationship.

That understanding can matter in sports careers where weekends, evenings, travel and unpredictable schedules are normal rather than exceptional.

Josh knew those demands from baseball, while Laura has experienced them from the broadcasting side.

What Does Josh Rutledge Do Now?

After his playing career ended, Josh did not remain in professional baseball.

Instead, he entered financial services and worked as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo for approximately three years.

He later changed direction again by entering real estate.

In 2022, Rutledge began working as a realtor with Coldwell Banker in West Hartford, Connecticut. He has also been licensed to work in Massachusetts.

Real estate appears to fit another interest Josh has had for years. When announcing his move into the field, he explained that he had always enjoyed exploring homes and land.

His business interests also extend beyond property.

Josh became a co-owner of West Alabama Ford, a full-service Ford dealership located in Sulligent, Alabama. He announced his involvement with the dealership in 2022.

The move represented another connection to his home state even as his family life and business activities expanded elsewhere.

His transition from professional athlete to financial advisor, realtor and business owner shows that retirement from baseball did not mean stepping away from ambitious professional goals.

Josh Rutledge Still Has Strong Alabama Roots

Alabama remains an important part of Josh Rutledge’s identity.

He grew up in Cullman, became a successful high school baseball player in the state and attended the University of Alabama.

Even after leaving college early for professional baseball, he eventually returned to finish his degree.

His connection to the state continued with his involvement in West Alabama Ford.

Alabama is also important to his personal story because it is where he met Laura during that 2011 football tailgate.

For a couple whose lives have taken them through professional sports, national television and different cities, their Alabama connection remains one of the most consistent parts of their history together.

What Does Josh Rutledge Enjoy Outside Work?

Away from business and family responsibilities, Josh has a strong interest in outdoor activities.

Fishing and hunting are among his longtime hobbies.

He has shared photographs from fishing trips over the years, including catches such as mahi-mahi, bass and amberjack. He has also shown an interest in bow hunting.

These hobbies offer a glimpse of a quieter lifestyle away from the professional sports environments that once defined much of his career.

Although Josh is no longer playing in Major League Baseball, sports and outdoor activities clearly remain important parts of his life.

Laura Rutledge and Josh Rutledge Have Grown Together

The story of Laura Rutledge and Josh Rutledge started casually at a University of Alabama football tailgate, but their relationship has now lasted well over a decade.

During that time, Josh went from Major League Baseball player to retired athlete, college graduate, financial advisor, realtor and business owner.

Laura moved from pageant competitions and early reporting work into a major national sports broadcasting career.

Together, they became parents to Reese and Jack while continuing to support one another through demanding careers and major personal milestones.

That shared background in competitive sports may be one reason their relationship has worked through so many professional transitions. Each understands the long hours, travel and uncertainty that come with careers connected to athletics.