Red Flags In Jessica Simpson And Eric Johnson's Relationship From Our Love Coach

Actor and singer Jessica Simpson and former professional football player Eric Johnson, a retired tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, began dating — and got engaged — in 2010, and four years later, the two stars tied the knot in a private ceremony in Montecito, California. "To say 'I do' in front of family, friends and, most importantly, our children has been the happiest moment of our lives," the couple gushed to People at the time. Together, Simpson and Johnson have three children, and anyone who has been following them on social media over the years knows that they present themselves as the perfect couple. "... [O]nce I met Eric, I feel like [my life] was more nurtured. Everything was more supported. Everything felt so easy," the "I Wanna Love You Forever" singer told People in 2023.

However, it's no secret that social media can be deceiving, and rumors of a fractured Simpson-Johnson marriage have begun circulating more and more. That's why we reached out to celebrity love coach and relationship expert Nicole Moore to see whether this famous couple is staring down any serious issues, and, oh boy, does this couple have some big red flags.

Being with someone who has dealt with any type of addiction comes with additional baggage, which makes it a big red flag in relationships. Jessica Simpson has been open about her alcohol addiction and how happy she is about her own sobriety. "I haven't wanted or touched alcohol since October 2017, and it has been the best decision I've made for myself and for my family," she wrote on an August 2024 Instagram post about her son Ace in response to a user who commented, "STOP DRINKING!"

Nicole Moore explains exclusively to Glam that addiction can become a huge red flag in a relationship, new or not. "While Eric has been seemingly by Jessica's side as she's navigated alcoholism, Jessica's addiction issues have likely caused major strain on the relationship," Moore tells us. Moreover, even the scrutiny and rumors that Simpson might drink again, as suggested by the aforementioned Instagram user, could cause problems for the couple. "It's possible that Jessica's addiction issues played a big part in this couple's marital issues," the expert adds.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Recently, there have been rumors that Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson have been living separately, which certainly isn't a green flag. In fact, a source revealed to Us Weekly this November that the two are "trying to figure out a separation without disrupting their kids' lives as much as possible."

Nicole Moore admits that couples who take breaks are often throwing up a glaringly red flag. "When couples take repeated breaks, it typically indicates that the couple isn't using the break to actually heal but rather to avoid relationship issues that just reappear once the couple has gotten back together," she tells us exclusively. "It's possible that Jessica and Eric don't have the skills needed to grow during their breaks and make the relationship stronger, so in this case, the breaks just make their relationship worse." However, there are some scientifically proven reasons why we go back to our exes, so we can't fully blame Simpson and Johnson for rekindling their romance — if the breakup rumors were ever true.

Being a good parent and supporting children together is a major part of any healthy couple's life if they have kids. And while Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson have done a great job over the years, the two haven't been seen supporting their children together lately. In fact, when Simpson shared images of her children on their first day of school at the beginning of September, fans were quick to notice that Johnson wasn't anywhere to be found.

"It's a big red flag that Jessica and Eric haven't been seen together at their children's school activities in months," Nicole Moore shares exclusively with Glam. "When couples can't even be in the same room together for the sake of the kids, it typically indicates there's huge tension and animosity beneath the surface." In fact, since children are involved, the couple probably shouldn't stay together unless they're truly happy, as unhappy parents can create unhappy dynamics for the whole family. "If Jessica and Eric can't put their family ahead of their relationship issues, it's a sign that their relationship may be headed to an end," she adds.

Even though both Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson have had success in their respective careers, it's safe to say that they aren't nearly as relevant today as they were when they started dating in 2010. And with loss of relevancy, of course, comes a loss of money — not to mention that the two ended up taking some major financial risks over the years.

"Jessica went through a huge financial ordeal in order to buy back her company, and the stress likely took its toll on her marriage," Nicole Moore exclusively explains to Glam. "In addition, Jessica had a part in funding and backing one of Eric's business startups that unfortunately didn't reach success." The celebrity love coach clarifies that, apart from losing money, the way they lost it can also cause resentment between the two. "When one partner invests in their partner's project and it doesn't work out, that can cause a lot of strain on a marriage and potentially create an imbalanced power dynamic between the panther starting the business and the partner that invested," she tells us. "It's possible that the financial issues the couple have faced have driven a wedge between them rather than bringing them closer together." 

While it's truly sad that money can cause problems like this, we all live in a material world — and financial problems can wreak havoc on any relationship (especially if the partners involved don't know how to approach each other about finances).

In mid-November 2024, Eric Johnson was spotted out and about without his wedding band, which is certainly not a good look for a couple that's always presented as perfectly put together. Seemingly on the brink of a separation, the two are, according to a source who spoke to People, ready to part ways. "She's working on music and splits her time between Los Angeles and Nashville. Eric spends all of his time in L.A., where the kids go to school," the insider told the outlet. "Jess and Eric very much live separate lives."

Ultimately, while neither Jessica Simpson nor Johnson has publicly confirmed that they have separated, there's no denying that the couple's marriage has had quite a few major red flags over the years, from getting engaged the same year they began dating to now struggling to balance what they want as a couple with what they need to do as parents.