Former NFL star Tiki Barber has married his one-time mistress and girlfriend Traci Lynn Johnson in a civil ceremony in New York City eight days after the divorce to his ex-wife became final.
Former New York Giants Tiki Barber, 37, running back wed 23-year-old Traci Lynn Johnson at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau.
“It’s a great day,” said Tiki Barber on the way into the office.
“We’re finally getting married.”
A polarizing figure, Tiki Barber left his wife of 11 years, Ginny, in 2010, even though she was eight months pregnant with twin girls, after beginning an affair with Traci Lynn Johnson.
At the time, Tiki Barber was working for NBC’s Today show with ambitions to be a serious journalist, but lost his job soon afterwards due to indifferent responses to his reporting skills.
The affair with former NBC intern and Maxim pinup girl Traci Lynn Johnson did not help his cause either, as public opinion turned massively against Tiki Barber, who appeared in the XXXV Superbowl in 2000.
Taking to Twitter to confirm the news, Tiki Barber said: “Many thanks to the NYC Clerk’s office, especially James Mitchell who married me to my love @TraciLJohnson! Excited for the next chapters.”
Traci Lynn Johnson and Tiki Barber had planned to get married on May 12 in the Hamptons, however, his divorce to his wife of 13-years had not been finalized and the ceremony was postponed.
After the ceremony, Traci Lynn Jonson tweeted: “We’re married @barber_tiki !!!!!!” and posted a variety of pictures from their happy day, including one of both bride and groom wearing their wedding rings.
Tiki Barber has hit the headlines repeatedly over the course of his playing career and in retirement.
During his final playing days at the New York Giants he became critical of the coach Tom Coughlin’s playing style.
In 2007, Tiki Barber questioned the leadership skills of the Giant’s star quarterback, Eli Manning, who has since gone onto to deliver two Superbowl titles to the Giants, both without Barber.
Also, Giants fans angrily booed Tiki Barber when he was inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor in October 2010.
Before his clandestine affair with Traci Lynn Johnson became public, Tiki Barber was thought of as a committed family man, already the father of two sons and the expectant father of twin daughters.
He met his wife, Ginny Cha at the University of Virginia when they were both students.
Tiki Barber incurred the wrath of New York’s Jewish community last year when he described his secret affair with Traci Lynn Johnson conducted in his friends attic apartment as being like the tragic story of Anne Frank.
Meeting his bride-to-be at his lawyer, Mark Lepselter, apartment, to hide the tryst from his wife, Tiki Barber made ill advised comments.
“Lep’s Jewish,” said Tiki Barber to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim reported the New York Post.
“And it was like a reverse Anne Frank thing.”
Tiki Barber told the New York Post last year that Traci Lynn Johnson helped him get through last year, in the aftermath of his firing from Today.
“I have a wonderful girlfriend who lives me and got me through those bad times,” he said.
In attendance yesterday were only close friends of the couple, including Tiki Barber’s twin brother, Ronde, who still plays in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
