Haley Cavinder opens up about the DM that led to her wedding with Jake Ferguson

Haley Cavinder has revealed the unexpected direct message from her now-husband, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, that sparked their relationship in 2023.

The former college basketball star shared the story during an appearance on PEOPLE’s WAG World, hosted by Skyler Caruso. In the episode released on October 9, Cavinder, 25, recalled how Ferguson first contacted her.

“He just DMed me and asked how my golf game was,” she said.

At the time, Cavinder had recently graduated from the University of Miami and said she was not actively looking for a relationship. Ferguson, 27, also played it casually as the pair began getting to know each other.

However, their connection developed quickly. “We spent 10 days together straight, and he’s just a good, down-to-earth human being,” Cavinder recalled.

She praised Ferguson for remaining grounded despite the attention that comes with being a professional athlete. Cavinder said her first impression of him had remained consistent throughout their relationship, adding that he continued to make her a better person.

Her twin sister, Hanna Cavinder, also shared her initial reaction to the relationship. Hanna admitted she initially thought Ferguson seemed too good to be true and wanted to see whether his behaviour would remain consistent over six months.

Haley explained that her sister’s approval was important because of their close bond. She described Hanna as the most important person in her life and said she wanted the person she dated to get along with her twin.

Ferguson eventually won Hanna over, with Haley jokingly pointing to her engagement ring and wedding band as evidence of his commitment.

Ferguson proposed to Haley in April 2025 during a beachside moment. The couple married on June 20, 2026, in a beachfront ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami.

Since their wedding, Cavinder said married life has felt much the same as dating, although she now considers them a family, alongside their dog, Boozer.

The couple dated for three years before tying the knot.