Jake Retzlaff, an American football quarterback for the BYU Cougars, has a supportive girlfriend, Jaelynn Lambert, who cheers him throughout his athletic journey.
His girlfriend encouraged him with a special tribute after the Cougars finished the regular season ranked No. 17 in the country.
Highlights
- Jake Retzlaff and Jaelynn Lambert are a powerful couple and represent Brigham Young University.
- Jaelynn likes the quickness and competitiveness of softball and has been playing for 11 years.
- Jake is the first Jewish quarterback in the history of BYU, a Mormon school.
As a junior, Jake Retzlaff began playing football at Centennial High School, totaling 1,067 passing yards and eight touchdowns.
He threw for 3,302 yards and 23 touchdowns at Golden West College before transferring to Riverside City College. However, he entered the transfer portal for the second time and joined the Cougars.
He was named the second-string quarterback entering the 2023 season and threw for 210 yards in his first career start.
Jake was named the starting quarterback after competing with Gerry Bohanon during the 2024 season and threw for 348 yards and 3 touchdowns in the season opener against Southern Illinois.
In 2023, he became the first Jewish quarterback to play with the Cougars. Similarly, in 2024, he was the first athlete to sign an NIL deal with the Jewish food brand Manischewitz.
Jake Retzlaff’s Girlfriend Plays Softball At BYU
Jake Retzlaff and Jaelynn Lambert have a strong and supportive relationship.
They are dedicated athletes who encourage each other in their respective sports, cheering during the games.
Jaelynn also attends Brigham Young University and represents BYU softball. She has been playing softball for almost 11 years.
Her dedication to playing softball has hit a significant milestone in her softball career and continued her athletic career throughout high school and college.
Her father also played softball, which she loved since she was 10. Jaelynn’s dream became a reality, and she used to train with her father in the parks.
She likes the quickness and competitiveness of softball. Her teammates are her close friends, and her motivation to play wouldn’t exist without them.
Coaches and teammates helped her through hard times and kept her drive to play softball alive. They have an impacting role that helped her for a better future.
Jaelynn is a team-oriented and competitive softball player and will keep her father’s legacy alive throughout her athletic career.
Nonetheless, Jake and Jaelynn are powerful athletic couples whose close friends and family are proud of them as they bring out the best players at BYU.
The lovebirds haven’t disclosed when they began dating, but they are together for the long run. They often share pictures of their athletic endeavors on their social media.
Jake Retzlaff Made History As The First Jewish Quarterback At BYU
During the 2023 offseason, Jake Retzlaff was transferred to BYU, making him the only Jewish quarterback in program history.
BYU has approximately 98% of the Mormon faith, and Jake is one of five students of the Jewish faith.
BYU’s Jewish QB Jake Retzlaff just led the Cougars to a 6-0 start.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) October 12, 2024
For the 6th time in program history.
To become the first Big 12 team to reach bowl eligibility.
In front of a crowd of 64,420, the largest in Provo since 2009.
On Yom Kippur.
College football is the best. pic.twitter.com/rOPIDEoZfW
Jake enjoys every second at the university and has gained worldwide attention for being the Jewish quarterback at a Mormon school.
My family is all practicing Jewish, particularly my mom. I had a bar mitzvah and am a member (at Temple Beth Israel, a Reform synagogue in Pomona, California) of a congregation. I love my Jewish journey.
Jake Retzlaff
His friend encouraged him to be himself during high school when everybody was trying to figure out who they were. He felt he owed his friend for bringing out the best of him.
He always wears a Star of David necklace, which is a symbol of both Jewish identity and Judaism.
All the stuff that’s come from that, just being yourself. And so since then it was like, I’m just going to be a 100% unapologetically me, and trust me, the guys in the locker room, they know that and they’ve seen that. And so it’s been fun to just embrace that and be me. And I think it’s great because I think it’s awesome, the positive feedback from people around the world.
Jake Retzlaff
Jake’s fans supported him, and all the positivity he received during his journey has been incredible.
Additional Information
- Jake Retzlaff, the son of Maxanne Retzlaff and Steve Retzlaff, was born on March 28, 2003, in Corona, California.
- He wasn’t allowed to play in his senior year in high school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored BYU, and the university was founded in 1875.
