By Alexus Mosley

Before she was a billionaire business mogul, SKIMS founder, or Met Gala mainstay, Kim Kardashian was just a glam girl dating an NFL heartthrob (cue 2007 flashbulbs and reality TV confessionals). Yes, we’re talking about the Kim K and Reggie Bush era. What a golden pop culture moment when fashion, fame, and football collided in the most Y2K way possible.

At the height of the WAG culture craze, tabloids obsessed over Victoria Beckham, Coleen Rooney, and Gisele Bündchen. Then Kim Kardashian came along, putting her own spin on it.

Here enters Reggie Bush, a Heisman recipient and star running back for the New Orleans Saints, one of the most hyped young athletes in the NFL. The two began dating in 2007, around the same time Keeping Up with the Kardashians was finding its footing. Their relationship was highly public, from red carpet appearances to joint magazine covers and vacations in Cabo. In many ways, Kim and Reggie were America’s answer to Posh and Becks but with Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton Speedys, and Ed Hardy tees in the mix.

Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush pictured at Mercedes-Benz Fall Fashion Show in NYC (2009)

In case you weren’t there, we’ll paint the picture: Kim’s signature long extensions, bodycon dresses, and bold contour. Reggie’s oversized denim, designer sneakers, and fresh lineup, and Paparazzi shots of them shopping in Beverly Hills, attending awards shows, and showing PDA while court-side. It was peak 2000s Calabasas glam meets NFL Sundays energy. And though it might’ve seemed like just a fling to some, it marked a pivotal moment in Kim’s rise to fame and where the celebrity-industrial complex, reality TV, and sports culture truly began to intertwine.

Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush courtside at San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Hornets Game (2010)

Despite seeming like the ultimate couple, Kim and Reggie broke up in 2010, citing “busy schedules.” A classic line in celebrity PR playbooks. But behind the scenes, it was a bit deeper. Reggie reportedly wasn’t comfortable with the ever-growing fame (and attention) that came with Kim’s life. She was becoming the Kim Kardashian we know and love (or hate) today. Interestingly, the breakup reportedly shaped her future relationships. Kim was open about wanting marriage and family, something Reggie wasn’t ready for at the time. Four years later, Kim would have the marriage and kids with Kanye West.

Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush attend the Pur Jeans Halloween Bash in Los Angeles (2008)

Though their relationship didn’t last, the Kim and Reggie era gave us a peek into early Kardashian fame mechanics, one of the last truly offline celeb couples (pre-Instagram dominance), and a time capsule of what celebrity dating looked like before personal brands became empires.

We’ll never forget when Kim Kardashian was a Saints WAG decked out in Hervé Léger, standing beside Reggie Bush in his post-game suits. It was short-lived, overexposed, and totally unforgettable.

Pop culture history, archived.

Pop Culturette Flashback: Remember When Kim Kardashian Was a Football WAG?