Nick Arbuckle, an American professional football quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts, led his team to the Grey Cup victory against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
His wife, Zakiyaah Shabazz, has supported the quarterback tremendously throughout his football journey.
Highlights
- Nick Arbuckle and Zakiyaah Shabazz married in March 2019 in Georgia and have a daughter, Aaliyah, born during Covid.
- Zakiyaah worked three jobs to support her husband’s athletic career.
- Aaliyah loves football and goes to play on the football field.
Nicholas Arbuckle graduated from the St. Bonaventure and played college football at Los Angeles Pierce College and Georgia State.
He was first-team All-Sunbelt Conference and became the first Georgia State football player in school history to be named the conference player of the year in 2015.
Likewise, in the same year, he set a Sun Belt record of 4,368 passing yards and school records in completions (307) and touchdowns (28).
Nick was undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft and spent a mini-camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.
Later, in March 2017, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders and became their backup quarterback behind Bo Levi Mitchell.
He was traded to the Ottawa Redblacks on January 3, 2020, and signed with Toronto Argonauts on February 1, 2021.
Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson replaced him as the starting quarterback for the Toronto and was traded to the Edmonton Elks on October 26, 2021.
However, he resigned with the Toronto Argonauts on May 19, 2024, and led his team to the 111th Grey Cup victory.
Nick Arbuckle’s Wife Zakiyyah, Worked 3 Jobs To Support His Athletic Career
Quarterback Nick Arbuckle met Zakiyyah Shabazz in a dining hall at Georgia State University a decade ago. They married in Georgia in March 2019.
They knew they had to make some sacrifices for his football career but never thought their relationship would find a home in Calgary.
— Nick Arbuckle (@arbuckle_QB9) March 30, 2020
Nick focused on training, traveling, and meeting with teams across North America to gain a shot at football while his wife worked three jobs to keep his dream alive.
It left them in a position where they couldn’t commit to a career and had to have jobs to pay the bills.
We never really knew who was going to call or when they were going to call and where we might be going.
Nick Arbuckle had recalled.
Zakiyaah taught English in China and had to wake up around 5 a.m. because the timing was the opposite between the United States and China.
Afterward, she taught in school during the day to late afternoon and worked in an escape room.
Although they couldn’t afford a car, which was tough, the married couple was always happy. They didn’t feel like struggling and were blessed to have jobs.
Zakiyaah wasn’t present to watch his first CFL start in Regina but was in the stands when he led the Stamps to a comeback victory over the BC Lions.
If I would have seen that anywhere else — like Friday Night Lights — I look at those games like ‘OK. That’s unrealistic.’
Zakiyaah Shabazz had expressed.
When he got in I was nervous. But I’m getting excited now just thinking about it. Seeing it was incredible.
Nonetheless, the married couple loves to watch television series like Game of Thrones and House of Dragon. Nick has watched all nine seasons of The Office at least 10-15 times.
Nick Arbuckle’s Daughter Aaliyah, Has Been At His Side For Every Step
Zakiyaah has been a pillar of support for her family, and the married couple moved to Toronto when the quarterback signed with the Toronto Argonauts.
Nick used his first-year payment for their wedding and got pregnant in the second year. Aaliyah was born in Ottawa during Covid and loves football.
Aaliyah wants to go to Nick’s work, go on the football field, and play football. She isn’t usually cuddly and likes having her own space running around.
But when Nick had to say goodbye to them during his training, she only wanted to lay on his chest and watch the movie Moana.
Since birth, their daughter has lived in six homes, four cities, and two countries. It was a roller coaster ride for Zakiyaah, who took care of her while the quarterback was away for months for training.
Nick’s wife had gone through everything to support his career, and he couldn’t thank her enough to show enough love and care.
There’s nothing I love more, or makes me feel happier and more special than my wife and my daughter. For one, they’ve been through so much with my career, with the support and everything they’ve done. My daughter’s been just amazing with the experiences and things she’s had to do in just a little over two years of her life.
Nick Arbuckle expressed with a beaming smile.
Additional Information
- Nick Arbuckle, the son of Steve and Michelle, was born on October 4, 1993, in Camarillo, California. He grew up with his three elder brothers, Matt, Eric, and Jarrod.
- His father was a football coach, and her mother coached a soccer team. Michelle was clinically bipolar and was diagnosed when the quarterback was born.
- He often works out at the beach or on the football field at five in the morning and then lifts weights at 6 a.m.
- He was named the most valuable player of the 111th Grey Cup game.
