Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota delivered a solid performance in the Monday Night Football matchup on October 27, 2025, against Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs. Filling in for the injured Jayden Daniels, who remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, Mariota took the field for his third start of the 2025 NFL season. Despite his determined efforts, he was sacked twice by the Chiefs’ defense. As conversations grow around his return as the starting quarterback, attention has also turned toward his biggest supporter—his wife, Kiyomi Cook.
Who Is Kiyomi Cook?
Kiyomi Cook is a former collegiate soccer player turned coach, known for her athletic background and academic achievements. She earned a Bachelor of Science in human physiology and psychology from the University of Oregon, where she played as a midfielder for the Ducks women’s soccer team. It was during her time at the university that she met Marcus Mariota, and the two soon became college sweethearts.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Kiyomi pursued a master’s degree in exercise and nutrition science from Lipscomb University. Professionally, she worked as a soccer coach at the University School of Nashville and Father Ryan High School between 2015 and 2020.
Beyond her coaching career, Kiyomi serves as the social media director for her husband’s nonprofit organization, the Motiv8 Foundation, and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. Alongside her professional accomplishments, she is also a devoted wife and a loving mother to the couple’s daughter.
Marcus Mariota & Kiyomi Cook
The couple’s story began in 2014 at the University of Oregon, where both were student-athletes. Marcus was the Ducks’ celebrated quarterback, while Kiyomi represented the women’s soccer team. They went public with their relationship in 2015, appearing together at an NFL Draft party in Honolulu, Hawaii.
In a 2016 interview with The Tennessean, Mariota spoke fondly of their relationship, describing their bond as down-to-earth and rooted in simplicity.
“We don’t have a whole lot of [free] time, but we kind of just got to see Broadway a little bit and heard a lot of music at the country bars. It was a lot of fun.”
Despite their demanding careers, the couple cherished the moments they could spend together. After several years of dating, Mariota proposed to Kiyomi in June 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. They later tied the knot in July 2021 in a picturesque ceremony in Hawaii, the same place where their love story first drew public attention.
Their family expanded in December 2022 with the birth of their daughter, Makaia Kei Mariota, who is now nearly three years old.
More About Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota is an accomplished NFL quarterback who has played for several franchises, including the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and now the Washington Commanders.
Drafted second overall by the Titans in the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota first gained national prominence during his college tenure at the University of Oregon, where he earned the 2014 Heisman Trophy. His decorated collegiate career also saw him receive multiple accolades, including the Davey O’Brien Award, Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Today, Mariota continues to showcase his resilience and leadership on the field, supported every step of the way by his wife, Kiyomi Cook, and their daughter, Makaia.
