Justin Verlander is in the headlines after he decided to officially end his 21-season MLB career. On September 26, 2026, the 43-year-old pitcher made his final start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, drawing the curtains on his injury-hit final season. It is worth mentioning that Justin’s MLB retirement came while he was part of the Detroit Tigers, the same team where it all began.
Away from baseball, Justin Verlander is married to model and actress Kate Upton. She has been a constant source of support for the athlete as he navigates various ups and downs in his life.
Justin Verlander credited Kate Upton for saving his career
Justin Verlander might have made a name for himself as one of the biggest stars in the baseball field over the years; however, things were not always smooth sailing for him. Back in 2014, Justin thought that his career was over. As a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, his ERA was way up, and his win totals were way down. At the time, Justin had given up more runs than any pitcher in the American League.
Soon, a Tigers coach pulled him aside and asked Justin to get an MRI. Justin, who was 31 years old when the incident happened, stopped on the stairs and cried. Recalling how he felt, he said, “I really thought it was the end.”
Justin Verlander had already been dating his now-wife, model Kate Upton, for two years at that time. Since she was used to living her life in the public eye, Kate understood the pressures that came with stardom and just how cruel certain critics can be. Similarly, Kate Upton also understood that physical issues are something that can derail a person’s career. Justin said:
“She obviously had dealt with more than me in her life. I mean, being a woman? Being in that industry? Being that famous? That was a level I hadn’t dealt with.”
During an interview with Bleacher Report, Justin Verlander admitted that he was depressed that Kate played a major role in him not “jumping off a bridge.” In his words:
“She was instrumental in me not … like, jumping off a bridge. I was depressed and kind of just upset at the world and trying to hide my own shit.”
Justin Verlander said that his wife made him realize that he needed help, both physically and emotionally. And even though he is the type of person that doesn’t talk to people when they get hurt, talking with Kate felt like he was talking to a therapist. He added:
“I don’t like to talk to people about being hurt. As athletes, you’re not supposed to. It’s an excuse…But she was someone I could talk to. I mean, basically a therapist.”
After talking with Kate, he began seeing a physical therapist who helped him rehabilitate his body. They worked together on how Justin pitches, and by 2016, the athlete was completely back.
Justin Verlander and Kate Upton’s love story
Justin Verlander and Kate Upton met for the first time in 2013. At the time, the pair were filming a commercial for the Major League Baseball 2K12 video game. About a year later, Justin and Kate made their relationship public in January 2013. The duo split briefly in mid-2013 when Kate began dating Dancing with the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy. However, by January 2014, Justin and Kate were back together, reuniting in the Bahamas for a romantic getaway.
In 2016, Justin proposed to his lady love, and after he won the World Series with the Houston Astros in November 2017, he and Kate Upton tied the knot in the same month in Italy. The couple has two children. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Genevieve, on November 7, 2018, and their second child, a son named Bellamy Brooks, on June 19, 2025.
What are your thoughts on Justin Verlander crediting his wife, Kate Upton, for getting him out of depression? Let us know.
Photo Credit: Justin Verlander/IG, Kate Upton/IG
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