EJ Tackett is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional bowlers of his generation, a title he has earned through more than a decade of dominance on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Born in Huntington, Indiana, Tackett grew up spending countless hours on the lanes as a child before turning that early obsession into a career defined by major championships, tour records, and back to back Player of the Year honors. This article traces his upbringing, his rise through amateur and professional bowling, his signature style, and the records that have made him one of the sport’s biggest stars.
Quick Bio Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Edward Dean Tackett Jr. |
| Nickname | Squirrel |
| Date of Birth | August 7, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Huntington, Indiana, United States |
| Home Town | Bluffton, Indiana |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches |
| Sport | Ten pin bowling |
| League | PBA Tour |
| Turned Pro | 2012 |
| Career Titles | 27 PBA Tour titles, including 7 major championships |
| Notable Achievements | PBA Triple Crown winner, four time PBA Player of the Year, three-time consecutive PBA World Championship winner |
| Spouse | Natalie Goodman, married 2019 |
| Sponsor | MOTIV Bowling |
| Known For | One of the most dominant bowlers in modern PBA history |
A Childhood Built on the Lanes
EJ Tackett grew up around bowling from a very young age, largely due to his father, Ed Tackett, who owned a bowling center. One well known story from his childhood captures just how early his dedication took shape. On Christmas Day of 1999, while his father worked on renovating the center, seven year old EJ started bowling and kept going for fifty four straight games, only stopping when it was time to go home, a moment he reportedly cried about the entire ride back. That level of obsession with the game continued throughout his youth and laid the foundation for the technical mastery that would define his professional career.
By the age of eighteen, Tackett was already competing at an elite amateur level. He advanced through the grueling qualifying rounds of the 2011 U.S. Open, one of bowling’s major events, working his way up from a field of more than a thousand bowlers to finish twentieth. That same year, he earned a spot on Junior Team USA and represented his country in the Dominican Republic, winning two gold and two silver medals.
Turning Professional
After deciding to leave Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Tackett used his growing reputation in amateur bowling to earn a PBA Tour card. In the 2012 to 2013 season, he competed in sixteen events, cashed in ten of them, and was named PBA Rookie of the Year, a strong signal of the career that was to come. His combination of a powerful, high revolution release and remarkably accurate lane reading set him apart from other young bowlers entering the tour.
Tackett claimed his first PBA Tour title in 2015 at the Lubbock Sports Open. That win opened the door to a breakout 2016 season, during which he captured four titles, including his first major championship at the PBA World Championship. That same year, at just twenty four years old, he earned the Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year award, an honor that carried special meaning for Tackett since Schenkel, the legendary sports broadcaster the award is named after, was also from Huntington County, Indiana. The achievement also made him automatically eligible for the PBA Hall of Fame.
Building a Dominant Career
Tackett’s success continued to build steadily over the following seasons. In 2017, he had an even stronger year, winning four titles including his second major championship at the PBA Tournament of Champions. He added three more wins in 2018, along with a second consecutive runner up finish for Player of the Year. In 2019, he posted top ten finishes in three of the five major championships and won the PBA Tour Finals for the second time in three seasons, an emotional victory that came just days after the death of his grandfather, who had helped instill in him his early love of the game.
By 2024, Tackett had reached rare air in the sport. That year, journalists tracking his career noted he had accumulated twenty three titles, five major championships, two Player of the Year awards, and a Rookie of the Year honor, all before turning thirty two. His pace only accelerated from there.
Historic Achievements and Records
Tackett’s most extraordinary stretch came during the 2023 through 2025 seasons, when he won three consecutive Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year awards, a feat matched by only a handful of bowlers in PBA history. In 2025, he won a historic third consecutive PBA World Championship title, defeating rival Jason Belmonte in the final, becoming the first player since 2020 to win back to back World Championship titles and setting an official PBA record with six consecutive championship round appearances.
He is one of only nine professional bowlers to have completed the PBA Triple Crown, earned by winning the PBA World Championship, the PBA Tournament of Champions, and the U.S. Open, and he is one of just four players to earn a three-peat in a major championship. As of the 2025 season, Tackett had claimed 27 PBA Tour titles, placing him tenth on the all time career titles list, with career earnings exceeding two million dollars.
Life Off the Lanes
Away from the intensity of tour competition, Tackett has spoken about finding peace through simple routines. He owns several acres of land in Ossian, Indiana, where he enjoys mowing the lawn as a way to decompress and reflect on his career. In 2019, he married Natalie Goodman, herself a former state champion high school bowler from Illinois, and the couple settled in Bluffton, Indiana, near the bowling center his parents purchased and continue to run.
Tackett has also spoken about briefly considering a path in professional golf before ultimately deciding his stronger chance at long term success was in bowling, a decision that has clearly paid off given his record setting career. He remains an active member of the MOTIV Bowling team, where he has taken on a leadership role among the brand’s staff of professional players.
Why His Story Resonates With Fans
EJ Tackett’s rise from a small bowling center in Indiana to the top of professional bowling represents one of the more compelling athlete stories of the past decade. His combination of raw talent, relentless practice from an early age, and consistent excellence across more than a decade on tour has established him as a defining figure of his generation. For fans of the sport, his story also carries a distinctly Midwestern character, rooted in family, hard work, and a hometown that continues to shape his identity even after years of national and international success.
Conclusion
EJ Tackett’s journey from a bowling obsessed child in small town Indiana to one of the most decorated players in PBA history reflects a rare blend of natural talent and relentless dedication. With multiple major championships, record setting seasons, and a growing legacy in the sport, Tackett continues to shape what it means to be a modern bowling champion.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is EJ Tackett?
EJ Tackett is an American professional ten pin bowler and one of the most successful players in PBA Tour history, known for his powerful, high revolution bowling style.
2. How many PBA Tour titles has EJ Tackett won?
As of the 2025 season, he has won 27 PBA Tour titles, including 7 major championships.
3. What is the PBA Triple Crown, and has EJ Tackett achieved it?
The PBA Triple Crown is earned by winning the PBA World Championship, the PBA Tournament of Champions, and the U.S. Open. Tackett is one of only nine bowlers in PBA history to complete it.
4. Is EJ Tackett married?
Yes, he married Natalie Goodman, a former state champion high school bowler, in 2019.
5. Where is EJ Tackett from?
He was born in Huntington, Indiana, and grew up in the nearby town of Bluffton, where his family owned and operated a bowling center.
