Erin Andrews knows firsthand the power of a strong squad. 

Because every time the NFL sportscaster suits up for a new battle—whether it was the two surgeries she had to undergo after a 2017 cervical cancer diagnosis or one of the grueling nine rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) she experienced—she knows her guy Jarret Stoll has her back.  

"My husband was so amazing about learning about my cancer," she told E! News in an exclusive interview. "He was so amazing about supporting me any way he could with either the shots, the transfers, the retrievals. Not a lot of guys understand all that." 

And when the emotional toll of so many failed attempts led them down the surrogacy path, "He just was so open, accepting and willing to listen," Andrews said of the retired NHL centre, who remains tight with the surrogate who carried their now 12-month-old son Mack.

"I think as women, we are already judging ourselves because we can't carry the baby because, 'Why did this happen to me? I feel like he's going to look at me a certain way,'" Andrews continued. "My husband was the complete opposite of that. He was my biggest cheerleader, and I firmly believe our relationship got stronger and better because of it."

First, though, they had to tackle some tough moments. 

Take the misconception that IVF is a no-fail fix when it comes to building a family. Or that prospective parents choose to pursue surrogacy to skip out on the harder bits of pregnancy.

"Sometimes people think you're doing it because it's the easiest way to have a baby and it's the absolute opposite," noted Andrews. "It's the hardest and probably the cruelest journey you could go through." 

As for the cancer battle she fought, "It was the worst because I couldn't carry my baby," said the 46-year-old, who hosts the Calm Down with Erin and Charissa podcast alongside fellow sportscaster Charissa Thompson. "But it was the best because it made me an advocate for infertility, for surrogacy. It led us to our surrogate, who's our angel. Mack, we were able to have him that way, obviously. So there's a dark side and a really great side to it, too." 

As for Mack, who recently celebrated his first birthday ("Shocker, it's probably going to be a sports theme," Andrews joked to E! in May), he was worth every audible they had to call along the way. 

"He is a wild child that has just got a lot to say and he is busy," the Fox Sports standout raved. "We were supposed to have this baby."

Even his older, furrier brother would agree. 

Though Andrews noted golden retriever Howie ate up every bit of his day on set away from Mack filming Purina Pro Plan's new Fueled By docuseries highlighting sports personalities and their dogs, the pup has grown to accept his new teammate. 

"Mack and Howie have really started to gel," she acknowledged. "Howie isn't as jealous that he's now sharing his home."

And with their locker room at peace, the WEAR by Erin Andrews founder is excited about notching more wins in the future. 

"Look, I love football, I love being a mom," she explained. But if there's one endzone she's marching toward, "I think Calm Down should be a morning show or an afternoon show," said Andrews. "That's where I see myself." 

And for those on their own fertility journey looking for advice, huddle up. 

"It's going to work out," Andrews insisted. "It is. I get DMs all the time from women that are struggling. A woman who had interviewed me had a really hard time getting pregnant, and she would text me and just say, 'I have to go to another baby shower and I don't want to.' She just texted me and said, 'I'm pregnant.' And I said, 'I told you it's going to work.' But you don't believe it when you're in. It's going to work. So you just have to believe that." 

And she's not the only star to have grown her squad with the help of a surrogate. See who else has opened up about their journey to becoming a parent. 

—Reporting by Nikaline McCarley.

The couple welcomed baby boy Wren Alexander Stephens in June 2023 after Chrissy gave birth to older children Luna, Miles and Esti. 

The supermodel confirmed in June 2024 that she welcomed both her daugther in 2021 and her son in 2023 via surrogate.

The Happy Endings duo welcomed their third child—a baby girl named Frances Rose—with help from an "angel" surrogate, Casey shared in January 2023. "A large factor of surrogacy was my postpartum depression that I had through both kids," she said. "It's actually a very strong choice to make when you're parenting other kids, and for myself."

"We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate," the singer and actress shared in January 2022. E! News later confirmed they named her Malti Marie Chopra Jonas.

In July 2022, The Kardashians star welcomed a baby boy, Tatum Thompson, via surrogate with the NBA player, though the pair split soon after their son was conceived.

The Pitch Perfect star welcomed a daughter named Royce Lillian in November 2022, writing at the time, "I can't even describe the love I have for her, she's a beautiful miracle!"

The couple, who wed in 2021, welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named Phoenix, via surrogate in January 2023. 

In March 2021, the actor and his wife announced the arrival of baby no. 6, a daughter named Lucia. A source close to the couple confirmed to E! News she was born via surrogate. 

The Bridesmaids star and her husband welcomed twins via surrogate in 2020. 

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star welcomed daughter Blaze Tucker via surrogate in Nov. 2019.

Following two high-risk pregnancies, The Kardashians star and the rapper, who have since divorced, enlisted the help of a gestational carrier to welcome daughter Chicago West in January 2018 and and a baby boy, Psalm West, in May 2019.

The Bring It On star and the retired NBA player welcomed a healthy baby girl, Kaavia, via surrogate on Nov. 7, 2018. "Our miracle baby arrived last night via surrogate and 11/7 will forever be etched in our hearts as the most loveliest of all the lovely days," the actress shared.

The Watch What Happens Live host became a first-time dad with the arrival of his son, Benjamin Allen in February 2019. "I'm in love," he wrote on Instagram, adding, "And speechless. And eternally grateful to an incredible surrogate. And I'm a dad. Wow." Three years later, daughter Lucy joined their family.

The supermodel and Erik Asla welcomed their first child, York Banks Asla, via a surrogate in 2016.

The actor and husband David Burtka welcomed their twins Gideon and Harper via a surrogate in 2010.

The couple welcomed daughter Faith in December 2010 via a surrogate. She joined the pair's first child together, daughter Sunday Rose, and Kidman's eldest children with ex Tom Cruise, Connor and Isabella.

The Sex and the City star and the Ferris Bueller's Day Off alum welcomed twins Tabitha and Loretta in 2009. They joined big brother James.

The legendary British singer and hubby David Furnish welcomed sons Zachary and Elijah via surrogate in 2010 and 2013, respectively. 

The Tonight Show host and wife Nancy Juvonen welcomed two daughters, Winnie and Frances, via a surrogate in 2013 and 2014.

The Pitch Perfect star and husband Max Handelman welcomed two sons, Felix and Magnus, via a surrogate in 2011 and 2012.

In 2015, the notoriously private Charlie's Angel actress announced the birth of her son, Rockwell Lloyd Liu, via surrogate. 

The Latin performer became a father to twins Matteo and Valentino in 2008. 

The Fast & Furious star and then-husband Andrew Form welcomed two sons, Julian and Rowan, via a surrogate in 2013 and 2016.

The Grey's Anatomy star and husband Chris Ivery revealed in 2014 they recently welcomed daughter Sienna via surrogate. The actress gave birth to their first child, daughter Stella, in 2009, and the couple welcomed a third child, son Eli, in 2016.

The Glee creator and husband David Miller welcomed sons, Logan and Ford via a surrogate in 2012 and 2014, and son Griffin joined their family in 2020.

In 2015, a year after suffering a miscarriage, The Bachelor star and Lorenzo Lamas' daughter Shayne Lamas and husband Nik Richie welcomed their second child, son Lyon, via a surrogate —the reality star's stepmother, Shawna Craig. The child joined big sister Press Dahl.

After battling fertility struggles for years, the actress and husband Carter Oosterhouse welcomed daughter Flora via surrogate in December 2016.

The Married...With Children star and husband Kurt Sutter welcomed daughter Esme Louise in 2007 via a surrogate. 

The Real Housewives of Miami star struggled with infertility before she and husband Lenny Hochstein welcomed their first child, son Logan, via a surrogate in 2015. Just a few years later, daughter Elle joined their family.