Cardinals’ Zach Ertz celebrates wife, Julie, during USWNT World Cup run

The American women tied 1-1 with the Netherlands in the second match of group play.

The Ertz are that rare NFL family in which both mom and dad are high-profile athletes. This is the third World Cup for Julie Ertz, the midfielder. This is Zach Ertz’s 10th year in the NFL. He played tight end for both the Eagles and now the Cardinals. The two met when both were competing in college. Zach starred at Stanford, while Julie played for Santa Clara. Zach proposed in 2016 at Stanford baseball stadium, where they first met. The two were married in 2017.

The two became parents last August when Julie gave birth to baby boy Madden. The whole family arrived in New Zealand earlier this month. After two weeks, Zach needed to come home.

The two haven’t spent this much time apart since Madden was born. If the two-time defending World Cup champions make it to the quarterfinals, Zach Ertz will miss Madden’s first birthday. Chances are, he’ll get a big party once it’s all over.

Zach said he told Julie “don’t come home without that gold.” Then he bragged on his wife to the media.

“It’s going to be tough missing this first birthday, that’s for sure, as long as they’re still playing,” Zach Ertz said. “But, at the end of the day, this is going to be an amazing story to tell.”

“It’s incredible,” he said. “Especially having a baby less than a year ago, playing in the World Cup at, essentially, 11 months from having a baby is remarkable. Just the woman’s body, just seeing the whole thing and her able to come back is crazy, and it’s awesome. … I mean, it’s inspiring.”

Meanwhile, Zach Ertz still is rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee. He tore his ACL in week 10 last season. Ertz told reporters he’d liked to be cleared for practice within the next two weeks. He believes it’s not “unrealistic” to be able to play in Arizona’s season opener.