Erica Diggs, the 'Queen of the NFL', Balances Business and Parenting

The jewelry designer known for outfitting top NFL players shares the human side of her sports industry hustle.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Erica Diggs, a jewelry designer known as the 'Queen of the NFL' for creating custom pieces for top football players and hip-hop artists, was profiled in a 2021 visual project that shifted the focus from her high-profile clients to the personal challenges she faced during the pandemic. The feature documented Diggs juggling her thriving business while also taking on full-time parenting responsibilities for her daughter Laila, demonstrating the human side of the sports industry hustle.

Why it matters

The profile on Diggs provides a rare glimpse into the personal lives of those working behind the scenes in the sports world, highlighting the demands and sacrifices required to maintain a successful business while also raising a family. It challenges the perception of the sports industry as glamorous, showcasing the real-life struggles entrepreneurs and working parents face.

The details

Photographer Mayan Toledano first met Diggs in a Brooklyn deli with her daughter Laila, a moment that inspired the visual project. The feature documented Diggs during the pandemic, when her workload did not slow down but her responsibilities as a full-time parent doubled. Diggs described this period as 'doing everything at once' - running her business while also taking on caretaker and teacher roles for her daughter. Despite the challenges, Diggs also used this time to complete her formal gemology training, giving her more control and leverage in her industry.

  • Photographer Mayan Toledano first met Diggs in a Brooklyn deli in an unspecified year.
  • The visual profile on Diggs was released in 2021.

The players

Erica Diggs

A jewelry designer known as the 'Queen of the NFL' for creating custom pieces for top football players and hip-hop artists.

Laila

Erica Diggs' daughter.

Mayan Toledano

The photographer who first met Diggs in a Brooklyn deli and later created a visual profile on her.

Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson

The journalist who interviewed Diggs about the visual profile and her business.

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What they’re saying

“I admire Erica for her confidence and her ability to pass strength onto her daughter.”

— Mayan Toledano, Photographer

“Doing everything at once - provider, teacher, and caretaker - while still maintaining my client base. The work didn't pause, it just shifted.”

— Erica Diggs (Sporting News)

The takeaway

Erica Diggs' story provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the personal challenges faced by entrepreneurs and working parents in the sports industry, challenging the perception of the industry as purely glamorous. Her journey of balancing a thriving business with full-time parenting during the pandemic demonstrates the human side of the sports hustle.