When the Philadelphia Eagles traveled to Chicago for their wildcard round matchup against the Bears last season, they played at Soldier Field. Tight end Zach Ertz got the win, but he missed out on another meaningful moment. Since the NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars play at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, Ertz did not get to compete on the same pitch that his wife, Chicago star Julie Ertz, plays on.
Tonight, Julie will have the opportunity to walk out onto Zach’s field as she joins the US Women’s National Team to face Portugal.
“It’s not a typical experience that many get to have,” Julie says. “To be able to step on the same field your husband does, where he does what he loves so much as well.
“I think for me to walk out, and to be on the field instead of in the stands is going to be a very unique moment. I think of it now, even flying in over the stadium, I think I always dreamed of it, but didn't know if it would be a possibility. So to have that, I'm just beyond excited.”
It’s another unique moment among many for now two-time World Cup Champion Julie Ertz. In a media environment dominated by male athletes, she’s one of the few female athletes that may be more famous than her husband. Neither Julie or Zach Ertz bask in their undeniable fame. Instead, they have sought to use it to improve the world around them and communicate to a younger generation.
“I think the biggest thing is that you want to be relatable,” Julie says after consideration. “So many people see you on TV in a game and don't know everything behind the scenes about how you got there.
“I'm a big believer in people need people, like an amazing support group that I have with my family and Zach.”
Julie’s new book, Chase Your Dreams, aimed at answering the questions many young people ask her about her journey — how do you become a professional athlete? How do you deal with setbacks? What are the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome? — is both reflective on her own growth as a person and a player and a set of lessons that can be used as guide and comfort for those that are approaching big life moments with trepidation or struggling with life in changing circumstances.
“Every year, my perspective changes and I reflect back,” she says. “A year out from the World Cup, when I was starting the process of writing my book, already I was reflecting on my career and where I was.
“I get to talk to so many kids who dream about being a professional athlete or a professional soccer player, or anywhere — they love sports; that idea of inspiring the next generation is special, and it's a big reason Zach and I started our foundation (The Ertz Family Foundation). We care about the next generation and love talking to kids. Having kids ask questions about how I got here, my views, what I've been through. So to be able to share that is really cool.”
Perhaps the biggest lesson from Ertz’s book is one that was crystallized by a coach in college: Embrace the opportunity.
“For me, the one thing I loved about soccer was that I can always get better, I can always challenge myself and try something new. That's what drew me in, and being pushed into a more serious role with it showed me how much I really wanted it.”
Ertz is now one of — if not the — best American midfielders in the world. She was a vital cog in the USWNT’s run to the World Cup and, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, a local celebrity in Philadelphia.
“From the first time I watched Zach put on an Eagles jersey and saw the love that the fans have — the sports base here, there's none like it; it's special,” Ertz reflects So to have a record-breaking crowd in Philly, in a city that I love so much, that support speaks volumes in itself.”
The 45,000-plus that will fill Lincoln Financial Field tonight when the US and Portugal face off will be supporting the players as they represent their nation, but there will be something more in their cheers for Ertz.
“In the airport, every time I land, it truly feels like it is a home here and I'm grateful to have that feeling,” she emphasizes. “This city feels like my home. From the second Zach was drafted here, even the way they took care of him before I moved out here after college: It's huge, it means so much. It's motivating and inspiring for me. They support me in so many ways, and not only me as a soccer player but off the field. Zach and I, together.”
From playing in her first major tournament as a midfielder to taking center stage on her husband’s home field, Julie Ertz is having a storybook year in 2019. So… will she write about it someday?
“I never even dreamed of writing a book, I'm not a 'writer of a generation,’” she laughs. “But having so many kids want to understand my story was a surreal moment to hear, but also a cool journey for me to step outside of my comfort zone and be able to have a voice for my own journey.”
That’s not exactly a yes, but it suggests Ertz will continue to look for outlets for a voice that many still want to hear.
It will be hard to hear her tonight, however. The crowd in Philadelphia is going to be too loud, especially when Julie Ertz’s name rings out over the PA system.
