If you spent any time watching E! back in the mid-2010s, you know exactly who Nicole Williams and Larry English are. They were basically the royal couple of the WAGS LA era. But a lot of people still get their story twisted, assuming it was just another "reality TV showmance" meant to fizzle out once the cameras stopped rolling. Honestly? Most people got that dead wrong.
Larry, a former NFL linebacker who spent the bulk of his career with the San Diego Chargers, and Nicole, a powerhouse Canadian model, didn't just survive the reality TV "curse"—they thrived. But the road to their 2026 status as a certified power couple was anything but a straight line. It involved years of public bickering, a very controversial ring shopping trip, and a massive career pivot that saw Nicole go from "NFL girlfriend" to a legitimate business mogul.
Why Everyone Thought They Wouldn't Last
Let’s be real for a second. The early seasons of WAGS LA didn't exactly paint a picture of domestic bliss. If you go back and watch the 2015 premiere, the tension was thick. Nicole was openly struggling with the "Jersey Chasers"—those aggressive fans who follow NFL players around—and she wasn't shy about her jealousy. She once told People magazine that she was "vicious" when it came to girls testing her boundaries.
Then there was the ring situation.
There's a famous episode from 2017 where Larry and Nicole go ring shopping, and Larry basically tells her he doesn't want to wear a wedding band. Nicole was devastated. She was literally in tears in the confessional, asking why he was playing with her emotions. At that point, the internet had already written their breakup script. Fans were certain that a guy who didn't want to wear a ring wasn't going to stick around for the long haul.
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The Turning Point in Thailand
Everything changed in May 2016. During a trip to Thailand—with the WAGS cameras capturing every single sweat bead—Larry finally dropped to one knee. It wasn't just a TV moment; it was the culmination of five years of dating. Larry later admitted that while he hated the cameras, he knew he couldn't imagine his life without her.
They got married in 2017 at the Montage in Laguna Beach. It was an over-the-top, white-and-green floral masterpiece. Nicole walked down the aisle to Celine Dion’s "The Power of Love," escorted by both her parents.
Nicole Williams English: More Than a Reality Star
One of the biggest misconceptions about Nicole is that she’s just a "WAG." In reality, she’s used that platform to build an empire that outlasted Larry's NFL career. By 2026, her brand Nia Lynn has become a staple in the luxury swimwear world.
But it was her work with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit that really broke the internet. In 2022, she announced her pregnancy while literally walking the SI Swimsuit runway. Talk about a power move. She followed that up by being the 2023 Rookie of the Year, posing for the magazine while seven months pregnant. She wasn't just "Larry's wife" anymore; she was a face of maternal empowerment in an industry that usually shies away from that.
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Larry's Life After the NFL
Larry English retired from the NFL after stints with the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Transitioning out of pro sports is notoriously hard. Most guys lose their identity. Larry, however, took a backseat to the spotlight, focusing on real estate and supporting Nicole’s ventures.
He’s also been incredibly open about his struggle with asthma, serving as a chairman for the American Lung Association. It’s a side of him the reality show rarely touched on, preferring to focus on whether or not he was going to the club with his friends.
The 2026 Reality: Parenthood and Privacy
These days, the drama of WAGS feels like a lifetime ago. The couple welcomed their daughter, India Moon English, in early 2023. If you follow Nicole on TikTok or Instagram today, you’ll see a much different vibe than the jealousy-fueled episodes of 2015. It’s mostly humorous videos of their daily lives, baby milestones, and a lot of "old married couple" bickering—the harmless kind.
They've also been vocal about the challenges of raising a child while maintaining two high-profile careers. Nicole recently discussed on the Relationsht* podcast that she purposely waited to have a baby to ensure her business was stable. It’s that kind of nuance that you don’t get in a 30-minute reality TV edit.
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What You Can Learn From Their Journey
Honestly, the Larry and Nicole story is a masterclass in ignoring the "noise." If they had listened to the critics in 2015 who said they were too toxic for each other, they wouldn't be where they are now.
- Build your own identity: Nicole never relied solely on Larry’s NFL paycheck. She built Nia Lynn into a brand that stands on its own.
- Privacy is a choice: Even though they started on reality TV, they’ve pulled back significantly, choosing what to share and what to keep for themselves.
- Longevity takes work: They’ve been together for over 15 years now. That doesn't happen by accident; it happens by navigating the "ring dramas" and the "Jersey Chasers" together.
If you’re looking to follow in Nicole’s footsteps, the best move is to check out her latest collections at Nia Lynn or catch her recent features in Sports Illustrated. Their story proves that you can start in the chaotic world of reality TV and end up with a stable, successful, and genuinely happy family life.
Next Steps for Fans and Entrepreneurs:
If you're inspired by Nicole’s transition from influencer to founder, start by researching her collaboration with SI Swimsuit. It provides a blueprint for how to leverage a personal brand into a sustainable physical product line. For those interested in the transition of pro athletes, Larry's work with the American Lung Association offers a great look at how to use a former platform for advocacy and health awareness.