Spending four years literally playing the field as a linebacker and then a long snapper at Vanderbilt University, Andrew East was used to collecting wins.
And while he earned a spot on the honor roll several times and was named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy recognizing academics, athletics and service, he's well aware his biggest play happened off the turf.
Marrying Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East meant his "ego has never had a chance to shine," the football player joked on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. "It is always like, 'You’re Shawn’s husband, right?'"
Though that's a position he plays with pride.
The topic "was brought up in a conversation that we were just having casually in a car," Andrew explained in an exclusive interview with E! News. "It was talking about how I think I'm so full of myself that I'm so glad that I married Shawn, who will forever be way cooler than me, because I don't need more ego or confidence. And she so easily puts me in my place, and it's just a great thing."
And while Shawn acknowledged the comment might not have landed for everyone—"If you know Andrew, you know how he was saying it; if you don't know Andrew, it kind of sounded like, 'Huh'"—she's well-versed in her husband's brand of self-deprecation.
As she said to Andrew during their joint sit-down with E!, "You always joke, 'She humbles me.'"
But, to be clear, the retired NFL player is thrilled to be his wife's No. 1 fan.
"That's the thing I'm most prideful in, which is great that it's not in my own accolades or accomplishments," he shared. "I get to be proud of my wife because she's freaking awesome."
That meant there wasn’t an ounce of sore loser energy in him when he learned Shawn and fellow competitor Gia Giudice each successfully completed the selection process for the elite military unit and were named the winners of the Fox series' fourth outing.
Admittedly, he was "really upset" when his armband was stripped during the Nov. 20 finale because he struggled with the interrogation.
"I was worried about Shawn," Andrew shared. "I know that she can handle her own, but it feels way better that we would be together through it all. But, as soon as I got the first call from her, I was like, 'Freaking, let's go!' Honestly, when Shawn wins, the team wins, which means the team wins a freaking lot because Shawn's just racking, stacking dubs."
Though while Andrew didn't nab a podium spot, Shawn would like to nominate him as the season's MVP.
"You were insanely good the whole season," she raved to her husband of nearly 10 years. "The fact that you didn't cross the finish line because you're a bad liar means I won the jackpot for a human being."
And it wasn't just Shawn he was rooting for.
"He was the rock for everyone," she insisted. "You're literally the people's golden retriever."
Which meant everyone from NFL wide receiver Randall Cobb to Gia to podcaster Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia to Sister Wives' patriarch Kody Brown would seek Andrew out to talk trhough a game plan. Said Shawn, "Every single person who was feeling vulnerable or scared or nervous leaned on him, the whole cast."
As a result, the couple emerged from the 10-day experience with a whole new squad of besties.
In addition to getting together with the season's Nashville contingent (Randall, actor Ravi Patel, singer Jessie James Decker and her retired football player husband Eric Decker) "We have this group chat now that's pretty active," Andrew detailed, "and it's a blast. It's hard to comprehend, I'm sure, that in the course of a matter of days, we were able to form these lifelong friendships. There's such strong bonding that happens through that type of struggle that's really cool."
Having been "so vulnerable and scared and at your wit's end" has a way of bringing a team together, agreed Shawn, "so all of us having gone through that side by side, we're real close, forever."
Though, of course, no one beats her home team. Check out the East fam's sweetest moment.
Welcome Baby Bear
Shawn and Andrew appear with their third baby, son Bear, in December 2023.
Baby No. 3
Shawn Johnson East and Andrew East welcomed their third child on Dec. 12, 2023.
Moment With Daddy
The former NFL player already has a sweet connection with baby No. 3.
Sibling Bonding
The newborn shared a hug with big sister Drew, born in 2019, and brother Jett, born in 2021.
Bear-y Cute
The gymnast captioned this cute shot of her thirdborn with the bear emoji.
Family of Four
Shawn and Andrew, who tied the knot in 2016, posed with Drew and Jett. She captioned the 2022 portrait, "Just the Hulk and his family."
A House Divided
For Halloween 2023, the guys chose their fighters as the girls went for magical vibes.
Taking After Dad
"Well… can’t make this up," Shawn wrote in August 2022. "Little dude has a new favorite toy. Giggles, smiles, won’t put it down."
Red, White and Baby Blue
The fam was ready for fireworks on July 4, 2022.
Pool Time
Shawn and Andrew relaxed with a swim alongside their kids.
Struttin' Her Stuff
Drew modeled her one-piece swimsuit during a family pool day.