The University of Alabama alum Calvin Ridley has had a controversial NFL career. There’s nothing wrong with his athletic abilities; however, the wide receiver was once suspended from his team. But last we heard, he’s come back stronger than ever and has made concrete progress.
So, why was he suspended? Additionally, is it true that he had some mental difficulties? Fans also heard that he had a rough childhood; what’s the story behind this? Well, don’t worry because the article below has got you covered!
Calvin Ridley’s Early Life And Family
On the 20th of December 1994, Calvin Orin Ridley was born. His parents, Colin Ridley and Kay Daniels welcomed him into their humble abode in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 29-year-old grew up with three younger brothers.
Plus, the mother-of-four, Daniels, was “supposed to be in the Olympics”. She could run quite fast, but in her own words, she messed up since she did not go to college. Nevertheless, she did pass her athletic genes on to her little ones and is super proud of them today.
It is unfortunate that Calvin’s two out of three siblings live a low-key lifestyle. None of the Ridley fans know who they are. On the other hand, Riley ‘Cavin’ Ridley, his other brother, is quite famous.
Born on 21st July 1996, Riley used to be a professional football player. For a brief period from 2019 to 2020, he played with the NFL’s Chicago Bears. Besides, he also played college football at Georgia.
Over and above this, the boys’ grandmother, Dorothy Daniels, was a prep basketball player in South Carolina. No wonder the Ridley brothers are amazing in sports!
The Jaguars Wide Receiver Had A Tough Childhood
Usually, things aren’t as good on the inside as they seem from the outside; that’s exactly the case with Calvin’s childhood. He did not get to enjoy it as much.
Truth be told, he grew up poor. His family lived off food stamps and lived from paycheck to paycheck. Their condition was much worse as they lived in an apartment with a monthly rent of only $26. On top of everything, scary people were kicking down their doors, demanding money, time and again.
As if that wasn’t enough, Colin, Calvin’s dad, was deported to Guyana when he was only 7 years old. Shortly after, their mother was taken into custody, and the boys were juggled into foster care. Being the eldest one, his little brothers looked up to him. Although he did not know when things were going to be okay, he provided his siblings with the assurance they needed.
Eventually, his mother did come out of the prison. But sadly, Mr. Ridley couldn’t come back home; his sons did not get to see him ever again.
Calvin Ridley Secretly Married His Wife
Though Calvin has had a difficult upbringing, he is in a better place now with his wife, Dominique Fitchard, aka Dominique Michelle.
The love birds met when they were in college in Alabama; while Calvin studied at the University of Alabama, she was at Alabama’s Tuskegee University. Ever since the beginning, their bond has been beyond strong.
Talking more about their relationship, Dominique got engaged to the man of her dreams on her birthday on February 10, 2019.
She has posted a video of her showing off the ring on her Instagram account; “I’m out the Game, and I’m changing my last name,” the beautiful lady wrote enthusiastically in the caption.
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The pair seem to have gotten married in secret, considering Fitchard has mentioned herself as a wife on her Instagram bio. Unfortunately, none of the tabloids know the date of their marriage.
All About Calvin’s Wife, Dominique Fitchard
Fitchard has a twin sister, Monique Nichole Fitchard. The twins celebrate their birthday each year on the 10th of February. Their mother, Sharon Marshall from Huntsville, Alabama, likes to boast about her two little girls on her account.
Sharon is married to her long-term lover, Marcus Reco Marshall, an ex-military man. Reco currently works at PPG Aerospace. He hails from Athens, Alabama.
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The Tuskegee University alum graduated alongside her twin in May 2016 to become an occupational therapist. Her journey to become one was troublesome, but Dominique did it anyway.
Further, she’s a businesswoman. In collaboration with Monique, she runs a hair extension enterprise, Hella Fly Hair Collection, LLC.
That’s not all. She also shares her love for sports with her hubby. While in high school, the footballer’s wife was an asset to the basketball team. Furthermore, she has also become a social media influencer, thanks to her lover boy. At present, she boasts a massive following of 30.5K fans on Instagram.
Calvin Ridley Is A Father To Two Beautiful Baby Girls
The husband-wife duo is blessed enough to share their love with two gorgeous daughters, Cree Michelle Ridley and Cori Meille Ridley.
Their elder one, Cree, was born on 27th June 2020. Likewise, the younger one, Cori, was welcomed into this world on 6 November 2023. Their mother announced their respective arrivals on Instagram. The posts were followed by a hoard of comments from the couple’s loved ones.
From Sunland Park To The NFL – The Footballer’s Career
It was in middle school that Ridley came across the game. Calvin and Riley began playing football at Sunland Park, Fort Lauderdale. The boys were joined by their cousin, Shawn Burgess-Becker, and the all-rounding Ronnie Hoggins.
Subsequently, young Calvin and his mates joined the football team at Monarch High School, Coconut Creek. This is where he really outshined everybody else. After playing multiple games in his senior year, followed by graduation, he committed to the University of Alabama for college football in 2014 and enrolled there in 2015.
From 2015 to 2017, he was an asset to Alabama’s team. Fast forward to 2018, he began playing in the big leagues. Ridley was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
It is also to be noted that he did not have a smooth time with the Falcons. After facing two rough patches, the team traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 season. Since then, he has made his name as the Jaguars wide receiver.
He Missed Half Of The 2021 Season And The Entire 2022 Season
Ridley missed most of the 2021 season due to his unmanaged mental health. In October of that year, he posted a tweet expressing that he was taking time off football. The tweet read,
I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental well being. This will help me be the best version of myself now and in the future.
He did, however, finish the season with 31 receptions for 281 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, playing five games.
Furthermore, he wasn’t seen at all in the 2022 season; why, you ask? Well, it was because Calvin was suspended from the team for betting on games in the previous season. He not only bet on other teams but also on his own. Additionally, he had to forfeit his base salary of $11.1 million for 2022.
In 2023, he released a public apology. He began by expressing that he made the “worst mistake” of his life by gambling on football in 2021. Calvin continued,
I paid the price, believe me. I’ve seen all the jokes. I’ve seen all the hate. And I can shoulder all of that, no problem. All I want is for people to understand that, when i made those bets. there was a hell of a lot more going on with me.
In addition, he revealed that he was suffering from depression and anxiety at the time. He couldn’t find joy in football anymore. Everything was dark, and he had to find some thrill in his life.
How Much Is Calvin Ridley’s Net Worth?
Looking at his contracts and all, Calvin stands tall with a whopping net worth of $12 million. As per the reports, he earned an estimated sum of $11,116,000 in the 2023 NFL season. He would’ve earned a similar amount in 2022 if the athlete hadn’t been banned from playing.
In addition, the multi-millionaire has his very own branded car collection. Sources confirm that he owns a Ford, Toyota, Tesla, Lexus LX, and a few other high-end vehicles. Moreover, he previously owned a mansion in Atlanta, which was sold for $685K in August 2023.
The same house was a victim of a gang-related burglary by the Drug Rich Gang.
