Unveiling Tyna Robertson: Custody battles and controversies surrounding Brian Urlacher's life
Tyna Robertson is an American real estate agent whose public life has been marked by lawsuits and custody battles. She sued Riverdance star Michael Flatley in the early 2000s for sexual assault. After welcoming a son with former NFL star Brian Urlacher in 2005, they were locked in a custody feud that ended with Brian gaining full custody after Robertson's husband killed himself in 2016.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Tyna Robertson briefly dated former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher from 2004 to 2005.
- They welcomed one son, Kennedy Urlacher.
- Robertson sued Irish dancer Michael Flatley in 2003 for $33 million, but the lawsuit was dismissed.
- She had to pay Michael $11 million for making false allegations and extortion.
- In 2016, her months-long marriage to Ryan Karageorge ended tragically when he killed himself.
Tyna Robertson's profile summary
Full name | Tyna Marie Karageorge (née Robertson) |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | March 1972 |
Age | 54 years old (as of August 2026) |
Place of birth | United States of America |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African American |
Sexuality | Straight |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Brown |
Ex-partner | Brian Urlacher |
Ex-husband | Ryan Karageorge (died in 2016) |
Children | Kennedy Urlacher |
Profession | Real estate agent |
Tyna Robertson's biography
Tyna Marie Robertson was born in March 1972, but little is known about her early life and background. She previously worked as an exotic dancer in Las Vegas, Nevada. By the early 2000s, Robertson had become a real estate agent in the Chicago area, Illinois.
What is Tyna Robertson's age?
She is 54 years old as of August 2026. Tyna was born in March 1972.
Source: Original
Her relationship with Michael Flatley and expensive lawsuit
Robertson had a brief encounter with Michael Flatley in October 2002. Flatley is an American-Irish dancer, choreographer, and producer known for the hit productions of Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger.
Tyna Robertson and Michael Flatley met at a boxing match and spent a day together at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. She later accused the Irish dancer of sexual assault, but Michael maintained that their encounter was fully consensual.
In early 2003, Tyna and her attorney, D. Dean Mauro, sent Michael Flatley a demand letter threatening to release the sexual assault allegations to the press unless he paid a multi-million-dollar settlement. Robertson subsequently filed a $33 million sexual assault lawsuit against Flatley in Illinois.
Tyna’s lawsuit was dismissed in September 2003. Michael Flatley countersued Robertson and her attorney in Los Angeles for $100 million for extortion, defamation, and fraud. The Riverdance star told the Irish Examiner at the time that he was not done with her until she was in jail.
She's got a tiger by the tail... It's terrible in today's world that somebody can accuse you without any proof, or anything going for them, and drag your name all over the papers like that and get away with it. It's terrible.
In December 2007, a Los Angeles judge granted Michael Flatley an $11 million default judgment against Robertson after finding her rape allegations to be maliciously false and part of an extortion scheme. Tyna was arrested in December 2008 for contempt of court and failing to make payments to Flatley.
Tyna Robertson and Brian Urlacher's relationship
Tyna had an on-off relationship with former NFL linebacker Brian Urlacher between 2004 and 2005. The pair welcomed their son, Kennedy Urlacher, on May 20, 2005.
Shortly after Kennedy's birth, Brian filed a paternity suit and did genetic testing, which confirmed he was the father. The two initially shared joint child custody, but legal battles and disputes marked their co-parenting relationship.
Kennedy lived with his mother in Joliet, Illinois, and visited the former NFL star at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois. In 2007, a court ordered both Brian Urlacher and Tyna Robertson to take a mandatory parenting class to resolve their custody and communication issues.
Tyna Robertson and William Goehrke
Although she dated Brian Urlacher and even had a child with her, the two were never married. Tyna's first known marriage was to Goehrke, who was then a European basketball player. The marriage did not last long as she filed for divorce from him in 2011.
Tyna Robertson and Ryan Karageorge's tragic marriage
Robertson found love again when he met Ryan Karageorge from Indiana. The couple tied the knot in September 2016, and Karageorge became a stepfather to Tyna’s son, Kennedy Urlacher. Tyna was also a stepmother to Ryan’s son, Nicholas Karageorge.
Tyna and Ryan Karageorge’s marriage came to a sudden end a few months later, on December 29, 2016, when Ryan suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head at their home in Willow Springs, Illinois. The couple were reportedly arguing when Karageorge reached into Robertson’s purse, pulled out a gun, and shot himself.
After investigations and an autopsy, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Illinois ruled that Ryan Karageorge killed himself. He was 34 years old.
The tragic event prompted Brian Urlacher to file an emergency motion in court citing safety concerns for his then-11-year-old son, Kennedy Urlacher. The retired NFL linebacker was granted temporary emergency custody of Kennedy, who started living with him in Arizona.
Tyna Robertson's $125 million defamation lawsuit against Brian Urlacher
In January 2018, Tyna filed a $125 million defamation lawsuit against Brian Urlacher and a Chicago Tribune reporter at the Cook County Circuit Court. She sought $25 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages.
Robertson claimed Urlacher and co-defendants conspired to falsely portray her as a suspect in her husband’s death and a bad mother to ensure the former Chicago Bears linebacker kept full permanent custody of their son. Tyna told the press at the time:
The atrocities that the Defendants (sic) have done equate to a modern-day lynching and witch hunt. My life has been ruined by what transpired. People perceive me as a murderer even to this date.
Brian Urlacher’s defence team slammed the lawsuit as meritless and recycled untruthful statements intended to manipulate the ongoing custody battle over her son with the former NFL star. The case was moved to the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where it was formally dismissed in September 2018 due to legal insufficiencies.
Tyna Robertson's son's football career
Robertson’s son, Kennedy Urlacher, is following in his father’s football footsteps. He played high school football at Casteel High School before transferring to Chandler High School in Arizona. By his senior year, Kennedy was rated a consensus three-star recruit and a top-60 safety prospect across the USA.
For his college football career, Kennedy initially committed to the University of Notre Dame, where he played safety for the Fighting Irish football team. In his freshman year, Urlacher's son helped the Fighting Irish reach the College Football Playoff National Championship game. He finished the 2024 season with 12 total tackles.
Kennedy entered the NCAA transfer portal in 2025 and joined the USC Trojans for his sophomore season. His player stats are already looking good. The 5-foot-11 athlete finished the 2025 season with 26 tackles, one sack, and his first collegiate interception. Academically, Kennedy is majoring in Real Estate Development at USC.
Where is Tyna Robertson today?
Tyna has kept a low profile after her husband’s tragic death in 2016 and the dismissal of her $125 million defamation lawsuit against Brian Urlacher in 2018. She has not been seen attending her son Kennedy’s games since he started playing in Arizona, where he was living with his dad, Brian Urlacher.
Who did Brian Urlacher marry?
Brian Urlacher is currently married to female model Jennipher Frost, who competed on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. The couple tied the knot on March 13, 2016, in Palm Springs, California. Urlacher and Jennipher reside in Arizona with their blended family.
The former Chicago Bears linebacker was previously married to Laurie Faulhaber. They married in June 2000 and welcomed two daughters, Riley Urlacher and Pamela Urlacher. Brian and Laurie divorced in 2004.
FAQs
- Who is Kennedy Urlacher's mother? His mother is Tyna Robertson, who had a brief relationship with his father, former NFL linebacker Brian Urlacher.
- Who is Tyna Robertson, Kennedy Urlacher's mother? Tyna Robertson is a former exotic dancer and real estate agent. She gained public attention as the ex-girlfriend of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher.
- Who are Kennedy Urlacher's parents? He is the son of former NFL player Brian Urlacher and his ex-girlfriend Tyna Robertson.
- What is Kennedy Urlacher's ethnicity? Kennedy is biracial, with a White father (Brian Urlacher) and an African-American mother (Tyna Robertson).
- What is Tyna Robertson's net worth? Tyna's exact net worth is unknown. No reliable financial publication has confirmed her wealth.
- Is Tyna Robertson still married to Brian Urlacher? Tyna and Brian were never married but only dated briefly from 2004 to 2005.
- How did Ryan Karageorge die? He died from a gunshot wound to the head on December 29, 2016. The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled the manner of death to be suicide.
- Did Brian Urlacher get custody of his son? Yes. In January 2017, a Cook County judge granted Brian temporary sole custody of his son, Kennedy Urlacher, due to safety concerns following the death of Kennedy's stepfather, Ryan Karageorge.
- What happened between Michael Flatley and Tyna Robertson? Tyna accused Flatley of sexual assault after their 2002 encounter. She sued the Irish dancer, but the case was dismissed in December 2007, and the judge awarded Flatley an $11 million default judgment against Robertson for false rape accusations.
- Who are Laurie Urlacher's kids? Laurie has two daughters with her ex-husband, Brian Urlacher. They include Riley Bryn Urlacher and Pamela Urlacher.
- Who is Brian Urlacher's current wife? The NFL Hall of Famer is married to Jennipher Frost, a model who competed in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model.
- Who are Brian Urlacher's kids? The former NFL player has two daughters, Pamela Urlacher and Riley Urlacher, and one son, Kennedy Urlacher.
- Is Kennedy Urlacher related to Brian? Yes, Kennedy is the biological son of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher.
- Who is Brian Urlacher's son? Brian is the father of college football safety Kennedy Urlacher. Kennedy plays for the USC Trojans after previously playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Conclusion
Brian Urlacher's former partner, Tyna Robertson, has navigated a tumultuous public life marked by legal battles and a personal tragedy. She now prioritises her privacy and commits to a quieter existence away from the spotlight. Her son, Kennedy Urlacher, has grown into a young adult and a talented college football safety for the USC Trojans.
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Source: Briefly News
Favour Adeaga (Lifestyle writer) Dr. Favour Adeaga is an author, speaker, and coach. He graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria. He did his internship at The Nation Newspaper and taught diploma students in Newspaper and Magazine courses at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He has curated the facts and life hacks category since 2018. Dr Favour is the author of several books available on Amazon. He currently lives in Nigeria. Email: favouradeaga@gmail.com
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