Austin Ekeler is an American football running back and kickoff returner for the Washington Commanders, as of the 2024 NFL season. He was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent, after going undrafted during the 2017 NFL Draft. According to Spotrac, he signed a two-year $8.43 million contract with the Commanders in 2024. Before joining the Commanders, Ekeler recorded 4,355 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns, along with 440 receptions for 3,884 receiving yards during his time with the Chargers, as per Pro Football Reference.
In his first season with the Commanders, Ekeler suffered a concussion and was taken to a local hospital after being hit hard while returning a kickoff just before the end of Washington’s Week 12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium (via Pro Football Network and New York Post). Before entering the NFL, Ekeler played football at Western Colorado University from 2013 to 2016. Ekeler was named the RMAC Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2013 and earned First-Team All-RMAC honors four times from 2013 to 2016. During his formative years, he played high school football at Eaton High School in Eaton, Colorado.
Who is Austin Ekeler's wife, Melanie Wilking?
Ekeler is married to his wife Melanie Wilking. According to Austin Ekeler's Instagram posts, the couple tied the knot on May 25, 2024.
What does Melanie Wilking do for a living?
Melanie Wilking is a professional dancer, choreographer and social media content creator. She has worked with artists such as Jason Derulo, Bruno Mars, and Iggy Azalea, and collaborated with brands including Adidas, Nike, Victoria’s Secret, and more, as per Forbes. She also appeared in Netflix’s three-episode series, Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult in 2024.
Melanie Wilking’s Social Media
Melanie Wilking maintains an active account on TikTok under the username @melaniewilking, boasting over 3.8 million followers, as of November 2024. On Instagram, she has 638K followers under the username @melaniewilking, as of November 2024.
Melanie Wilking’s Parents
According to the New York Post, Kelly and Dean Wilking are the parents of Melanie Wilking. She also has a sister named Miranda Wilking.
How long have Austin Ekeler and Melanie Wilking been married?
Austin Ekeler and Melanie Wilking got married in May 2024 and have been married for almost eight months, as of January 2025. In August 2023, Melanie Wilking posted several pictures on her Instagram account with Austin Ekeler, officially announcing their engagement.
Austin Ekeler Family Pictures
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FAQs on Austin Ekeler
A. Austin Ekeler plays as a football running back and kickoff returner.
A. Austin Ekeler has played for two NFL teams, including the Los Angeles Chargers and the Washington Commanders, as of the 2024 NFL season.
A. Austin Ekeler attended Eaton High School in Eaton, Colorado.
A. Austin Ekeler wears jersey number 30, representing the Washington Commanders.
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