Kelly Stafford, the wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, recently found herself in the middle of social media backlash after sharing a candid story about their college dating history. During a June 2025 appearance on the Off the Vine podcast with Kaitlyn Bristowe, Kelly revealed that she once dated Matthew’s backup quarterback at the University of Georgia with the sole intention of making him jealous.
According to Kelly, she and Matthew had an on-again, off-again relationship during their time at Georgia. Frustrated with his lack of attention and commitment, she decided to date his backup, who she described as the “bad boy” type, the complete opposite of Matthew’s “sweet Southern gentleman” personality. Kelly admitted that her strategy worked, as Matthew eventually stepped up his efforts to win her back.
Her comments quickly went viral. What started as a humorous college anecdote turned into a lightning rod for criticism across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. Many users accused Kelly of being manipulative and embarrassing her husband by publicly airing old relationship drama. Some even questioned why she felt the need to disclose such personal details nearly two decades later.
One user on X wrote, “Kelly Stafford talking too much and embarrassing herself and her husband.” Another added, “Imagine being that backup QB and waking up to this going viral 16 years later.” Reddit threads were filled with people debating her comments, with some labeling the move immature and others brushing it off as typical college relationship drama.
In response to the growing backlash, Kelly posted a public apology on June 25, 2025. She made it clear that the quarterback in question was not Joe Cox, a name that had been circulating online as a potential candidate. In her statement, Kelly expressed regret for causing unwanted attention to the backup quarterback and his family. She stressed that the person involved had no desire to be part of the story and that her comments were meant to be lighthearted.
“This was 16 years ago,” Kelly wrote in her apology. “I wouldn’t change a thing. It all worked out the way it was supposed to. But I’m sincerely sorry for dragging anyone else into this who didn’t ask for it.”
Despite the controversy, both Kelly and Matthew Stafford appear to have moved far beyond their college years. The couple married in 2015 and now share four daughters. Matthew has enjoyed a successful NFL career, including leading the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl victory in 2022.
Kelly has built her own public profile as well, hosting a podcast called The Morning After with Kelly Stafford and frequently sharing family life updates with her followers. However, this latest story has sparked debate about the limits of public oversharing—especially when it involves people who never asked to be part of the spotlight.
For many, Kelly’s story serves as a reminder of how small moments from the past can resurface and spark unexpected controversy when shared on a public platform.
