Tyna Karageorge, also known as Tyna Robertson, is the mother of Kennedy Urlacher. Kennedy’s father is former Chicago Bears star Brian Urlacher. Her name became known through a fight over child custody and a series of court cases.
She worked in real estate and later married Ryan Karageorge. After his death in 2016, a custody case drew public attention to a difficult period in the family’s life. That dispute led to lawsuits in Illinois.
In this article, you’ll learn about her background, family relationships, legal history, her son’s football career, and what is known about her life today.
Who Is Tyna Karageorge?
In a California court case from 2006, her name was Tyna Marie Robertson. In a later case in Illinois, she was named Tyna Karageorge, with Robertson listed as her former name.
She is not a professional athlete or entertainer. Her public profile comes mainly from her family ties and her involvement in legal cases that made national news.
Urlacher played for the Chicago Bears from 2000 to 2012. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Her name also appears as Tyna Marie Robertson in court files from the 2000s. That earlier name helps connect the cases from different years.
Her Work Before the National Headlines
In 2007, news outlets called Robertson a real estate agent. They used that job title when they wrote about her case with Irish dancer Michael Flatley.
Those reports describe her work at the time. They do not tell us where she works today.
Her job in real estate came before the custody suit. News reports did not describe her as a TV star, athlete, or performer.
Brian Urlacher and Their Son Kennedy
Robertson and Brian Urlacher were in a relationship, but they were not husband and wife. Their son, Kennedy, was born in 2005, while his father was playing for Chicago.
The parents later lived apart and both helped raise their son. A dispute over his care brought them to court in Cook County, Illinois.
Because Urlacher was a well-known NFL player, the custody case drew attention far beyond Illinois. Major sports outlets covered the court fight.
Kennedy later built his own football record, first in Arizona and then in college. He plays on defense, like his father did.
Marriage to Ryan Karageorge and His Death in 2016
In September 2016, Tyna married Ryan Karageorge. He became Kennedy’s stepfather, and the family lived in Willow Springs, a suburb of Chicago.
Ryan died from a gunshot wound at their home on December 29, 2016. The death was reported by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times soon afterward.
Later reporting said the medical examiner determined the gunshot was self-inflicted. The case soon moved from a family loss to a dispute over who would care for Kennedy.
His death took place only a few months after the marriage. It was followed by a change in Kennedy’s living arrangements and a period of intense legal attention for the family.
The 2017 Custody Dispute
Why Urlacher Asked the Court to Act
On January 4, 2017, Urlacher asked a Cook County court for urgent custody of Kennedy. The request came days after Ryan died at the home where the boy lived.
His court filing said he feared for Kennedy’s safety and mental health. He asked the judge to change where the boy would live.
The claims in that motion did not prove that his mother had committed a crime.
The Temporary Custody Decision
On January 9, 2017, a Cook County judge gave Urlacher temporary custody of Kennedy. The boy went to live with his father in Arizona.
The order dealt with short-term care. It did not settle every part of the parents’ future plans.
The court acted after hearing from those involved. The ruling changed where Kennedy lived while the case went on.
The $125 Million Lawsuit and the Federal Case
What the 2018 Defamation Claim Alleged
In January 2018, she sued Urlacher and others for $125 million in Cook County. News reports said she also named the Chicago Tribune and one of its reporters.
She alleged that statements made after Ryan’s death had unfairly portrayed her as responsible for it. Those were allegations in a lawsuit, not facts established by the filing itself.
The $125 million figure was the amount sought in that action. It was not a court award, a settlement payment, or a statement of her personal wealth.
She also brought a case in federal court. It had its own claims, court rules, and outcome.
What Happened in Federal Court
In 2018, she also filed a federal case against Urlacher and people tied to the custody fight in Illinois. She acted as her own lawyer.
On November 27, 2018, a judge dismissed claims against some of the people she sued with prejudice. The claims against Urlacher and one other person were dropped without prejudice because they had not been served on time. The federal case then closed.
Another ruling dealt with her allegation that a court reporter had changed a custody hearing transcript. The judge rejected that claim and reviewed a request for legal fees.
On September 27, 2019, the judge ordered her to pay the court reporter $8,500 in Rule 11 sanctions. The federal court’s written order explains the ruling and its reasons.
That order dealt with her claims against the court reporter. It did not award her money from Urlacher or resolve the separate state lawsuit.
The Earlier Michael Flatley Legal Dispute
Long before the custody story, Robertson was involved in a legal dispute with Michael Flatley, the dancer known for Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
She said Flatley had sexually assaulted her in Las Vegas in 2002. He denied it and said their encounter was consensual. Her civil case in Illinois was later dismissed.
Her attorney, D. Dean Mauro, sent Flatley a letter seeking a large payment to resolve her claim. In July 2006, the California Supreme Court ruled that Mauro’s communications amounted to extortion as a matter of law. That decision concerned the attorney’s conduct, not a criminal trial of Robertson.
In December 2007, a Los Angeles judge awarded Flatley about $11 million. It was a default judgment in a civil case over harm to his name and emotional distress. It was not a settlement payment.
These two legal fights took place years apart. The first involved Flatley and his lawyer; the later cases grew out of the custody dispute.
Kennedy Urlacher’s Football Career
Kennedy grew up to play football at Chandler High School in Arizona. He earned all-state and first-team all-region recognition as a senior and became a college recruit at safety.
He joined Notre Dame for the 2024 season. According to the school’s athletics record, he appeared in 14 games as a freshman, with 12 tackles and two passes broken up.
He transferred to the University of Southern California in 2025. USC credits him with 13 appearances that season, including three starts, 26 tackles, and one interception.
USC’s 2026 roster lists him as a junior safety. His public sports record is an important current part of the family’s story, separate from the legal headlines that surrounded his childhood.
Her Life Today, Age and Finances
Karageorge has not maintained a broad public profile in recent years. Her current job, home life, and relationship status are not established by the older coverage of her court cases.
Her date of birth has not been made clear in dependable reports. So a precise age cannot be stated as fact.
The same applies to net worth. Neither an old real estate job description nor the dollar amounts in lawsuits establish her current assets, earnings, or finances.
For readers looking for a recent update, the clearest public family news involves Kennedy’s college football career. That does not establish where his mother lives or how she spends her time.
Final Thoughts
Family ties, loss, and court fights put her name in the news. The dates and rulings tell that story. They also show why a claim made in a lawsuit should not be read as a proven fact.
Today, Kennedy’s football career is the main new public chapter in the family story. His mother’s daily life remains out of the spotlight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Tyna Robertson and Tyna Karageorge the same person?
Yes. Federal court records identify Tyna Karageorge as formerly known as Tyna Robertson. Earlier California records also use the name Tyna Marie Robertson.
Was she married to Brian Urlacher?
No. They were former partners and are the parents of Kennedy Urlacher. Her later marriage was to Ryan Karageorge.
Did she receive $125 million from the Urlacher lawsuit?
The amount was requested as damages in a 2018 legal claim. It should not be presented as an award or as part of her net worth.
What happened to Ryan Karageorge?
He died from a gunshot wound on December 29, 2016. Later news coverage reported that the medical examiner found the wound to be self-inflicted.
Where does Kennedy Urlacher play football in 2026?
He is listed as a safety on USC’s 2026 football roster. He joined the Trojans after starting his college career at Notre Dame.
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