Who is Maria Taylor’s ex-husband, Rodney Blackstock?

SPORTSCASTER Maria Taylor left ESPN after being embroiled in a "racial" scandal with a co-worker, Rachel Nichols.

As she continues to become a regular face on NBC Sports, fans want to know more about her private life.

Who is Maria Taylor's ex-husband, Rodney Blackstock?

Maria Taylor is currently a sportscaster for NBC Sports. 

She was previously an analyst and host for ESPN and SEC Network.

According to The Netline, Maria and her first husband, Rodney Blackstock, called off their first engagement before reuniting after three years to get married.

They met in 2014, while at a Charlotte Hornets game in North Carolina.

Maria told The Knot: "I remember seeing him and telling my friend, 'If we keep coming to these games, I’m going to end up dating him.'"

Rodney, meanwhile, was also curious about her - asking his pal whether she "played for the WNBA in Charlotte”.

Maria added that Rodney thought that "maybe I was there to support one of the guys - I was a girlfriend of a player or something”.

Rodney asked her out "on a dare" and their first date was in a parking lot where the two shared a meal.

Maria recalled, "We ended up talking in the parking lot until 5 am."

"I’ve never had that feeling before, ever, where you just look at someone and you’re like, 'That’s the one'."

Celeb Pie writes that Rodney is from Greensboro in North Carolina, and is of "Brazilian ethnicity and speaks fluent Portuguese."

The website claims he suffered a harsh childhood, living in various foster homes.

His mom reportedly died when he was 12 years old.

In 2020, he was the owner and an agent of The Auto Club Group in Buckhead, Georgia.

How long were Maria Taylor and Rodney Blackstock married?

The couple wed in May 2019, at the oceanfront Hilton Sandestin in Destin, Florida, "because we actually had SEC coaches meetings there before," Maria said.

However, they later called time on their marriage, according to several websites.

Distractify reported: "...they would later call it quits for reasons unknown to most of Maria's fans and social media followers."

Due to Maria's private nature, it is unknown when the couple officially ended their marriage.

Who is Maria Taylor married to now?

In February 2021, the TV host shared wedding pictures on social media.

This time, however, they featured a different man.

She captioned the Instagram post: "I love our love story."

Although little is known about Maria's new husband, according to an Instagram page named @flowersbyyona, his name is Jonathan.

In July 2023, Maria announced that she was expecting her first child with her husband.

"The last 3 years have been some of the most physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging years of my life," she wrote in a social media announcement.

"My journey to motherhood has not been a straight path. It’s been diverted by surgeries, multiple egg retrievals, and failed IVF cycles.

"There were times when I felt like my body was betraying me, that God didn’t want me to become a mom and that I ultimately didn’t deserve to be a mom.

"...It’s still crazy to think that just a year ago I came into the NFL season with the news of a failed embryo transfer. Another hope dashed," she continued.

"And now this fall I come into a new season carrying the greatest gift of all. Our sweet Prince will be here soon and I can’t wait to be his mom!"

People exclusively announced on December 30, 2023, that Maria gave birth to the couple's first child on December 24.

The baby is named Roman Ryan Taylor Hemphill.

Maria told People, "My journey to motherhood has not been a straight line. It has been long and difficult."

"There were several times I thought I would never become a mom," Taylor continued.

"But when my son was placed on my chest, our hearts were overwhelmed with love and gratitude."

"I immediately knew I had given birth to my soulmate," the sportscaster added.