"Ted Lasso" Star Jodi Balfour and Abbi Jacobson Met on a Dating App

On a January 2022 episode of Nicole Byer's "Why Won't You Date Me" podcast, Jacobson revealed that she and Balfour met on the dating app Raya. Byer often rags on the app on her podcast, so Jacobson added, "I actually really don't like it either, but I have to like it I guess now." Jacobson said that during the pandemic the app felt like "the only way I'll ever interact with anyone ever again," but that she was on Raya before the pandemic, too. She said that she and Balfour had a "mutual friend," too, which helped them connect.

Balfour and Jacobson kept their relationship a secret until their one-year anniversary in October 2021. Jacobson wrote on Instagram at the time, "One year with this incredible human. Don't know how I got so lucky." That same day, Balfour wrote on her page, "365 days of the best surprise of my life."

Jacobson publicly came out as bisexual in 2018. Balfour, meanwhile, publicly came out as queer in June 2021, a few months before the pair went public with their romance. She wrote on Instagram that month, "On this last day of Pride Month, I'm stepping away from my sense of inadequacy, my fear of taking up room not meant for me, and my need to do this right. . . . to say how undeniably freeing it has been to finally embrace and explore my queerness."

She continued, "How flooded I feel with gratitude for how easy it's been for me to share this with my community (I'm deeply aware that so many people fought to make it that way, and of how many people still don't get to have this experience); and that even though it took me a long time to get here, it feels like coming home to myself in a way that's burst life right open. Hope it's been a happy month! I'm gonna keep celebrating."

Jacobson and Balfour posed hand-in-hand on the red carpet ahead of the premiere of the "A Leauge of Their Own" series on Aug. 4, 2022. Three days later, People confirmed that the couple were engaged.

Jacobson joked with the outlet that the engagement was "not a secret" but her castmates still celebrated them sharing the news publicly. D'Arcy Carden, who stars on the show with Jacobson and is her longtime friend, said, "It's out. It's great. We're so happy. We love [Jodi]."

Jacobson and Balfour attended The Hollywood Reporter's Emmy Party together on Sept. 10, 2022. They matched in black ensembles for the evening.

Jacobson and Balfour attended the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington, DC, in October 2022. Jacobson and her "A League of Their Own" costar Chanté Adams were both honored at the dinner with the national visibility award at the event. Jacobson said in part during their speech, "I am so proud that 'A League of Their Own' touched so many people in the LGBTQ+ community. It was incredibly important to me – as a queer woman – to represent the different types of queerness that have always existed on the show."

She continued, "It is a universal story of resilience and hope – and it's incredibly gay. I'm so grateful to HRC for honoring our whole team – cast and crew that made this together, and for the entire community's support of our show."

Actor and LGBTQ+ advocate Sheryl Lee Ralph also received an honor at the event.

In November 2022, Jacobson posted a selfie of herself and Balfour on Instagram with "I Voted" stickers on and urged her followers to vote. Jacobson wrote in part, "I think about how many people didn't get the opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy. The right to vote was fought for us and it shouldn't be taken lightly. Did you vote yet?? If you can't vote early do you have your voting plan ready?" She also shared voting resources and encouraged her followers to get involved.

In February 2023, Balfour posted photos of her and Jacobson's recent trip to Rome.

On March 7, 2023, Jacobson supported Balfour at the "Ted Lasso" season three premiere in Los Angeles, posing together on the red carpet before the screening.