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In Houston, Texas (KTRK), the wives of football coaches are well aware that their role knows no offseason.
“Our entire life revolves around football,” Laurie Phillips, married to San Antonio Brahmas head coach Wade Phillips, shared.
“There’s no escaping it,” Angel Johnson, wife of Houston Roughnecks head coach C.J. Johnson, added with a grin. “I simply choose to embrace the journey.”
Angel Johnson and Laurie Phillips emphasized that being married to a coach means fully immersing oneself in football, where even family members don headgear alongside the helmet-clad players under their husbands’ guidance.
“As a coach’s wife, you wear many hats,” Angel Johnson remarked. “Maintaining a positive attitude is key, along with believing in your husband’s vision and supporting the team’s success.”
Together, they boast decades of experience as coaches’ wives. The Phillips have celebrated 55 years of marriage, while the Johnsons mark 25.
Both couples have their own children and grandchildren, but as spouses of football coaches, they also inherit an extended family: the players. Embodying the role of team mom comes naturally to the head coach’s wife.
“I cherish the opportunity to connect with them and learn about their lives beyond the field,” Laurie Phillips shared. “In many ways, I feel a maternal bond with some of them.”
For these women, football isn’t just a profession; it’s a way of life that intertwines with family bonds. And on Mother’s Day, their families will gather in a familiar setting: the stadium.
Rice Stadium will witness the Houston Roughnecks facing off against the San Antonio Brahmas in the United Football League.
“My husband has dedicated over 40 years to coaching,” Angel Johnson reflected. “These are the twilight years, and we’re relishing every moment.”
“While there are challenges, the rewards outweigh them,” Laurie Phillips added. “Football has brought us immense joy, strengthened family ties, and united us all under one common passion.”