First year of eligibility for the National Soccer Hall of Fame? No problem for Julie Ertz, one of the best midfielders and defenders in the history of the United States Women's National Team.
Amongst many other accolades, the two-time World Cup Champion, two-time Concacaf Women's Championship winner, and two-time U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year was surprised with the news that she would be inducted into the Hall of Fame by her husband, Eagles tight end Zach Ertz.
"(The National Soccer Hall of Fame) reached out to me about two months ago to try and figure out the best way to do it," Zach Ertz said after the surprise. "I kind of was out of ideas, but I wanted to get the family together, not in the craziness of the house, and make it a little special."
The ruse? A movie night at the Eagles' facility. This excuse allowed their sons Madden, Kace, and Kyren, as well as Zach Ertz's mother, Lisa, to be part of the surprise.
"It made sense to get here. And we've had family movie days in the past in the facility. So, it was easy to kind of just let her know," Zach Ertz said. "I wanted the boys to be a part of it, obviously. The twins (Kase and Kyren) didn't get to see her play, Madden saw her play even though he was 1 year old, but just to see how special their mom was."
The surprise had a few hiccups.
Not only was it hailing ice outside the Jefferson Health Complex facility as Julie Ertz parked, delaying her entrance, but Zach Ertz had to keep the movie story going despite multiple flags. For one, someone had accidentally told Julie Ertz congratulations on her selection days before the surprise, but was able to save it. Zach Ertz also had to have an excuse as to why he and Madden had to go to the Eagles' facility before Julie and the twins instead of going together as a family.
Luckily, it worked.
As the longtime Chicago Red Star walked into the auditorium, she was met with a graphic celebrating her accomplishment that was projected onto a large screen, and her husband did the honors of congratulating her on becoming a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection.
"Congratulations on the National Soccer Hall of Fame," Zach Ertz said to Julie Ertz, who was very much expecting a movie night.
Madden ran up to his mother and gave her the celebratory National Soccer Hall of Fame scarf. Djorn Bucholz, the Executive Director of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, presented her with a 2027 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Coin.
"I had no idea. I'm bawling my eyes out; I was so caught off guard," Julie Ertz said. "He's not a surprise kind of guy, so this is crazy."
Julie Ertz is part of the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2027, alongside former teammate Megan Rapinoe, United States Men's National Team icon Jozy Altidore, manager Lothar Osiander, indoor soccer trailblazer Tatu, and Sir David Beckham. She and Rapinoe join Tobin Heath (2026) and Carli Lloyd (2025) as the third and fourth Hall of Famers from the United States Women's National Team's 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup-winning squad, a victory that helped secure equal pay between the men's and women's national teams.
"I just think it shows you how sweet of a team that was. Such a generational, incredibly talented team it was and why it was such an honor to be a part of it too," Julie Ertz said when asked about joining her teammates from that 2019 squad. "The wins meant so much more than just winning a game. It felt so much bigger than women's soccer and just having four so early on after, it just shows you the incredible talent that was on that team."
Making it even more special was the fact it happened at the Eagles' training facility, a venue that meant so much to the two. Having first met as varsity athletes at Stanford University, they supported each other across different cities throughout their careers – Julie Ertz with the Chicago Red Stars, Zach Ertz with the Philadelphia Eagles.
"It's really full circle because Zach was drafted here first, even before I started my professional career," Julie Ertz said after finding out about her induction into the Hall of Fame.
The Eagles' longtime tight end returned to the team for the first time since 2021 earlier this season.
"Even just coming back here for his career was just such an emotional ride. So, let alone coming back to my memories of being here as the wife or girlfriend at the time is really sweet," Julie Ertz said. "Zach talks about how much he loves his time here, I mean, I'm right there with him. It's really like a second home. And so to have it here and show my kids kind of our memories and share it together, and especially moments like this, how sweet is it to just really have more memories that are just etched in history for us in our lives?"
As for Zach Ertz, he couldn't be prouder of his now Hall of Fame wife. The Class of 2027 National Soccer Hall of Fame induction takes place in Frisco, Texas on Friday, April 16th.
"I saw the journey, the day-to-day. People see this end result of her going into the Hall of Fame, but the reality was it was built over 10 years of giving everything she had to be at her best for her team and her teammates," Zach Ertz said. "For us, it's just special to see her acknowledged in this type of capacity. She was a person that never felt she truly arrived. She never wanted the accolades to be about her, but it's special to see her receive what she rightfully earned."
- Written by Caroline Connor
