Social media DMs are proving to be the newest hub for matchmaking

In October 2020, Chad Johnson debuted his girlfriend Sharelle Rosado, a “sports and entertainment realtor” and “retired army paratrooper OEF veteran.” Less than six months later, the former football star popped the big question.

At the time, Chad shared the news on his Instagram page, writing, “a man that findeth a woman that likes McDonald’s has foundeth a wife.” However, before their precious moment, many fans had been wondering where the two met. 

(L-R): Sharelle Rosado, Chad Johnson. Photo: @ochocinco/Instagram

During the “Behind Every Good Man Is a Strong Woman” episode of Chad’s weekly podcast “I Am Athlete” with co-host Brandon Marshall, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder, Sharelle revealed the origins of her and Chad’s love affair. The partners of the other hosts were also present. 

“I slid in his DM,” Sharelle told the group. “We used to tell — the joke was, we met on Christian Mingle, but I actually slid in his DMs.”

Both Chad and Sharelle have daughters from previous relationships who each run track. Sharelle explained that after spotting her longtime crush “walking across the field” at a track meet, she was inspired to shoot her shot. 

“He was always a crush of mine. Like for years. Sexy, tall, chocolate. That thang know he fine,” the Operation Enduring Freedom vet said. “But we would run into each other during track meets. I would see him. I didn’t say anything, but I slid into his DM, and he responded like two seconds later. We exchanged numbers. He FaceTimed me right away, and then we just started talking.”

However, Sharelle revealed that the two had stopped communicating for a brief period before. “That was a couple years ago. We were friends, and then I stopped talking to him,” she said. “We rekindled last year.”

Before meeting the successful realtor, Chad was married to “Basketball Wives” star Evelyn Lozada in July 2012 after a two-year-engagement. Following a heated argument, Chad reportedly head butted the reality star leaving a massive gash on her head. Chad was subsequently cut from the Miami Dolphins. Evelyn later filed for divorce after 41 days of marriage. Their reality show “Ev and Ocho” also was shelved. Although the former couple doesn’t have any children together, Chad does have seven kids from previous relationships.