Trey McBride has quickly become one of the most recognizable young tight ends in the NFL, but his life away from football has also attracted plenty of attention. The Arizona Cardinals star has had someone special by his side through much of his journey, from his college football days to his rise as an NFL standout.
That person is Lauren Ranson, McBride’s longtime girlfriend and college sweetheart.
The two reportedly met while attending Colorado State University, where McBride was building the football career that would eventually take him to the NFL. Lauren has remained part of his journey as his profile has grown, supporting him through major milestones and celebrating his success along the way.
While Trey is usually the one making headlines for what he does on the football field, Lauren has become a familiar figure to fans who follow the couple’s life away from the game.
Who Is Lauren Ranson?
Lauren Ranson is best known publicly as Trey McBride’s longtime girlfriend. She attended Colorado State University, the same school where McBride established himself as one of the top tight ends in college football.
Lauren studied apparel merchandising and design at Colorado State. Her academic interests have also given her a connection to fashion and creative work, separate from Trey’s career in professional football.
She has generally maintained a relatively private life compared with many partners of professional athletes. Rather than constantly appearing in the spotlight, Lauren tends to share selected moments from her life and relationship on social media.
That low-key approach has made the glimpses fans do see of the couple more meaningful. Her posts often show a supportive partner who is proud of Trey’s accomplishments while also maintaining her own identity.
How Did Trey McBride and Lauren Ranson Meet?
Trey McBride and Lauren Ranson reportedly met during their time at Colorado State University.
Their relationship began before McBride became an NFL player, which means Lauren has been around for some of the most important stages of his football journey.
At Colorado State, McBride was developing into a standout tight end and attracting attention from NFL scouts. His eventual success did not happen overnight. There were years of college practices, games, travel and preparation before he became a professional athlete.
Lauren was there during that period.
That history is one reason fans often describe her as McBride’s college sweetheart. Their relationship has continued well beyond their university years, through the NFL draft and into McBride’s professional career.
Lauren Has Been There Since Trey’s College Days
One of the more interesting parts of their relationship is how long they have reportedly known each other.
McBride entered the NFL after an impressive college career at Colorado State. He eventually became the first Colorado State player to win the John Mackey Award, which is presented to the nation’s top tight end.
That kind of achievement helped put his name on the national football map.
Lauren’s support has continued as his career developed. Instead of only becoming part of his story after he reached the NFL, she was already there while he was working toward that goal.
For many athletes, the transition from college football to professional football can be a major adjustment. The travel, media attention, training demands and expectations all increase.
Having a familiar person around during that transition can make a difference, and Lauren appears to have remained an important part of McBride’s personal life.
Lauren Ranson Comes From a Sports Family
Sports have also been part of Lauren Ranson’s family background.
Her grandfather, Jim Ranson, has a notable connection to Colorado sports. He is recognized as a former athlete and coach associated with Pueblo Central High School and is also part of the Colorado State Athletics Hall of Fame.
That connection gives Lauren an understanding of the culture surrounding competitive sports.
She also participated in several sports herself while growing up. Her athletic background reportedly included volleyball, basketball, golf and track.
So while Lauren is not the one playing on Sundays alongside McBride, she understands the commitment that comes with competitive athletics.
That shared background may also help explain why she has been such a natural supporter of McBride’s football career.
Trey McBride and Lauren Ranson’s Relationship
McBride and Ranson have kept many details of their relationship away from the public. Still, the moments they do share suggest a long-running relationship built during a period of major change in Trey’s life.
They have been seen enjoying time together, traveling and celebrating important occasions.
Their relationship is also interesting because McBride’s football career has grown dramatically since they first met. He went from being a college athlete at Colorado State to becoming an important player for the Arizona Cardinals.
Through all of that, Lauren has remained part of his life.
The couple’s social media moments also show a more relaxed side of McBride. Away from football statistics, contracts and game-day pressure, fans can see him spending time with someone who knew him before the NFL spotlight became part of his everyday life.
Lauren Supported Trey After His Big NFL Contract
One of the biggest recent moments in McBride’s career came in April 2025, when he agreed to a reported $76 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals.
For McBride, the deal represented a major step in his professional career. For Lauren, it was also a special moment because she had been with him through the earlier stages of his journey.
Her reaction on social media showed how proud she was of his achievement.
For fans, the post stood out because it reflected more than excitement over a football contract. It represented years of work finally turning into one of the biggest accomplishments of his career.
Lauren’s support has remained visible during other important moments as well, including his growing recognition around the NFL.
Lauren Ranson’s Instagram and Social Media
Lauren Ranson has maintained a presence on Instagram, where she shares parts of her personal life and relationship.
Her account is not simply centered around McBride. Instead, it offers a mix of everyday moments, travel, personal photographs and occasional posts celebrating the NFL star.
That balance is part of what makes her social media presence interesting to fans.
When McBride reaches a major career milestone, Lauren sometimes shares her pride and excitement. These posts give followers a glimpse into the personal side of a football career that can otherwise seem very public and statistics-driven.
At the same time, she does not appear to make her entire online identity about being an NFL player’s girlfriend.
That distinction matters because Lauren has her own education, interests and background outside of football.
Lauren Ranson’s Education and Interests
Lauren studied apparel merchandising and design at Colorado State University.
Her field of study is quite different from McBride’s professional world, but it gives her a creative outlet of her own.
Fashion and design have become increasingly visible around professional sports, especially as athletes and their partners use social media to share their personal styles.
Lauren’s education in the field provides another dimension to her public profile beyond her relationship with McBride.
Although she is best known to football fans because of Trey, her background shows that she has pursued her own interests and education.
Trey McBride’s NFL Rise
McBride has developed into one of the Cardinals’ most important offensive players.
His college career at Colorado State helped establish him as an NFL prospect, and Arizona selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Since entering the league, he has continued to improve and become a reliable target in the Cardinals’ offense.
His breakout 2024 season brought even more attention. He recorded 111 receptions, a franchise record for an Arizona tight end, and earned Pro Bowl recognition.
The success has also changed the level of attention surrounding his personal life. As McBride becomes a bigger name in the NFL, fans naturally become more interested in the people closest to him.
Lauren is one of those people.
What Makes Their Relationship Stand Out?
The biggest thing that stands out about Trey McBride and Lauren Ranson is the length of their relationship.
They reportedly met before McBride was an NFL star. Lauren knew him during his Colorado State years, when he was still working toward the professional career he wanted.
Now, with McBride established in the NFL, she remains by his side.
Their story is not based on constant public appearances or an endless stream of celebrity headlines. Instead, much of the interest comes from the fact that Lauren has been part of McBride’s journey for years.
That kind of history can be meaningful, especially in a professional sports world where careers can change very quickly.
The Bottom Line on Trey McBride’s Girlfriend
Lauren Ranson is Trey McBride’s longtime girlfriend and college sweetheart. The pair reportedly met while attending Colorado State University and have remained together as McBride went from a promising college tight end to an established NFL player.
Lauren studied apparel merchandising and design and has her own background in sports, having participated in several activities during her younger years. Her family also has a connection to Colorado State athletics through her grandfather, Jim Ranson.
She has continued supporting McBride as his career has taken off with the Arizona Cardinals, including celebrating his major contract extension and other professional achievements.
While Lauren keeps much of her private life away from the spotlight, her social media provides occasional glimpses into their relationship. For fans interested in Trey McBride’s life away from football, Lauren remains an important part of his story.