Kenny Pickett wife is Amy Paternoster, now Amy Pickett, a former Princeton University soccer player who married the NFL quarterback on June 24, 2023. The couple knew each other growing up in New Jersey before reconnecting during college and beginning a relationship in 2021. They became engaged in January 2022 and married the following year at Pleasantdale Chateau in New Jersey.
Pickett’s football situation has changed several times since their wedding. As of September 2026, he is a Carolina Panthers quarterback wearing No. 12, with Carolina listing him behind Bryce Young on its depth chart.
Quick Bio: Kenny Pickett
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kenneth Shane Pickett |
| Date of birth | June 6, 1998 |
| Age | 28 |
| Birthplace | Oakhurst, New Jersey |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Current team | Carolina Panthers |
| Jersey number | No. 12 |
| College | University of Pittsburgh |
| NFL Draft | 2022, Round 1, No. 20 overall |
| Draft team | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| NFL experience | 5 years |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Wife | Amy Paternoster (Amy Pickett) |
Carolina’s official roster confirms Pickett’s current team, position, jersey number, height and experience, while Pro Football Reference lists his full name, June 6, 1998 birth date and Oakhurst birthplace.
Who Is Kenny Pickett Wife?
Kenny Pickett is married to Amy Paternoster, an accomplished former college athlete with her own academic and sporting background.
Amy played women’s soccer at Princeton University as a forward and midfielder. Princeton’s official athletics profile shows that she competed across multiple seasons and earned Academic All-Ivy honors in 2021. During that season, she appeared in 16 games, scored three goals and recorded five assists.
Her soccer background is an important part of her story because sports were also part of the connection between her and Pickett long before they became a couple.
Earlier media profiles have discussed Amy’s work in finance and private equity after Princeton. Because employment can change, however, older job information should not automatically be treated as her current position in 2026 without fresh confirmation.
How Did Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster Meet?
Pickett and Paternoster knew of each other while growing up in the same New Jersey area.
Pickett has explained that they trained at the same facility when they were younger because he played football while Amy played soccer. They did not develop a romantic relationship at the time. Pickett later attended Pittsburgh, while Paternoster went to Princeton.
Their relationship changed when they returned home during a college break and met again at a party. That reunion eventually developed into a relationship in 2021.
The connection gives their story a different background from couples who first meet after an athlete becomes an NFL player. Amy knew Pickett before he was selected in the NFL Draft and was with him during the period when his football career moved from Pitt to the professional level.
When Did Kenny Pickett and Amy Start Dating?
Pickett and Amy became publicly linked in 2021.
Both shared photos of each other on social media in April of that year, marking the public beginning of their relationship. Their romance progressed quickly, and less than a year later they announced plans to marry.
That period also coincided with one of the most important stages of Pickett’s football career. His final season at Pittsburgh led to him becoming a first-round NFL Draft selection.
Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster’s Engagement
Pickett announced his engagement to Paternoster in January 2022.
The engagement came several months before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh’s official draft records confirm Pickett as the team’s Round 1 selection at No. 20.
Amy was therefore already Pickett’s fiancée when his NFL career officially began.
The timing is useful context because older articles sometimes frame their relationship mainly around Pickett’s Steelers career. Their relationship had already developed well before he became an NFL player.
When Did Kenny Pickett Get Married?
Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster married on June 24, 2023.
Their wedding took place at Pleasantdale Chateau in New Jersey, with reports describing a celebration attended by approximately 275 guests. Contemporary coverage from WTAE and People-syndicated reporting confirmed the marriage immediately after the ceremony.
The wedding came between Pickett’s first and second NFL seasons with Pittsburgh.
After marrying, Amy is also commonly referred to publicly as Amy Pickett, although her maiden name, Amy Paternoster, remains the name most frequently associated with searches about her athletic background and relationship with Kenny.
Amy Paternoster’s Princeton Soccer Career
Amy had a substantial athletic résumé before becoming widely known to NFL audiences.
Princeton lists her hometown as Wall, New Jersey, and her position as forward/midfield. She played eight games as a freshman in 2018 and scored the deciding goal in a 1-0 victory over Columbia, a performance that earned her Ivy League Rookie of the Week recognition.
She later appeared in 12 games in 2019. Princeton’s 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Amy returned in 2021 to play 16 games and earn Academic All-Ivy honors.
Her background means describing Amy simply as an “NFL wife” misses an important part of her public profile. She competed at the Division I level while attending one of the country’s most selective universities.
What Team Does Kenny Pickett Play for Now?
Kenny Pickett currently plays quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina added him during the 2026 offseason after he spent the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Panthers transactions show the team agreed to terms with Pickett in March 2026.
His NFL path has included the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers. That movement is why older relationship articles can contain outdated team information.
As of September 2026, Carolina lists Pickett as No. 12, and the Panthers’ current depth chart has him as the second quarterback behind Bryce Young.
Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster Relationship Timeline
Childhood: Pickett and Amy knew of each other in New Jersey through their athletic training environment.
2021: They reconnected during their college years and began dating publicly.
January 2022: Pickett and Paternoster announced their engagement.
April 2022: The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Pickett No. 20 overall in the NFL Draft.
June 24, 2023: Kenny Pickett and Amy Paternoster married at Pleasantdale Chateau in New Jersey.
2026: Pickett joined the Carolina Panthers, continuing an NFL journey that has taken the couple through several team changes.
FAQs
Who is Kenny Pickett wife?
Kenny Pickett wife is Amy Paternoster, also known as Amy Pickett. She is a former Princeton University women’s soccer player.
Is Kenny Pickett married?
Yes. Pickett married Amy Paternoster on June 24, 2023, in New Jersey.
Where did Kenny Pickett get married?
Pickett and Amy held their wedding at Pleasantdale Chateau in New Jersey. The ceremony took place in front of family and friends in June 2023.
How did Kenny Pickett meet his wife?
They knew each other while growing up in New Jersey because both trained as young athletes. They later reconnected during a college break and eventually began dating.
Did Amy Paternoster play soccer?
Yes. Amy played Division I women’s soccer at Princeton University as a forward/midfielder and earned Academic All-Ivy recognition in 2021.
Where did Amy Paternoster go to college?
Amy attended Princeton University, where she combined academics with her college soccer career.
What team does Kenny Pickett play for in 2026?
Kenny Pickett is currently a Carolina Panthers quarterback and wears No. 12. Carolina lists him behind Bryce Young on its quarterback depth chart as of September 2026.
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