David Blough’s rollercoaster career has brought him back to the Detroit Lions, where he played five games in the 2019 season. The Lions signed the Purdue alum to their practice squad after the Arizona Cardinals released him at the start of the 2023 season.
David Blough and his wife Melissa Gonzalez welcomed their first child in July 2023
David Blough and his wife Melissa met while growing up in Texas and have been together for a long time. The couple got engaged in May 2018 and tied the knot in March 2019. They welcomed their first child in July 2023. “Our littlest love,” Melissa captioned the post announcing the baby’s birth.
Career commitments made dating difficult for Blough and Melissa. Blough traveled to football games often, and Melissa participated in hurdles competitions worldwide. Melissa is a Colombian-American hurdles athlete who represents the South American country in races.
“That’s kind of been the story of our relationship, long distance. Sometimes, she’s gone for a few weeks; sometimes, I’m gone for a few weeks. We know how each other operates,” Blough told The Athletic in a joint interview with Mellisa. The pair have a lot in common, including their commitment to Christianity. She told SportGoMag.com:
“I’m not willing to compromise my beliefs. Yes, it may be easier, and much more comfortable, to go along with whatever my teammates are doing, but it’s not what we’re called to do as Christ-followers. We’re not promised a comfortable life. In fact, if we choose to follow Christ, we are promised to face opposition and persecution.”
Melissa Gonzalez’s father is Colombian, and her mother is American
Melissa’s father was born in Colombia, and her mother was born stateside. The pair met after her dad traveled to the United States to play college basketball. After graduation, Melissa decided to claim her Colombian citizenship. She talked to The Athletic about her decision to compete for Colombia:
“It gives me an opportunity to compete at this level that I probably wouldn’t have if I ran for the U.S., just based on the depth that the U.S. has in, like, every event. It’s an opportunity for me, and I know several other athletes who’ve decided to claim their dual citizenships in order to continue to compete.”