Matthew and Kelly Stafford's love story had a bumpy beginning, but they eventually found their way to each other.
Matthew and Kelly Stafford are now a happily married couple with four lovely daughters, but their love story had a rocky start. The two met while attending the University of Georgia, and it wasn't exactly love at first sight.
"It wasn’t that cute of a relationship at first," Kelly said on the "Off the Vine" podcast. "I hated him, I loved him."
Matthew Stafford and Kelly Stafford: A Love Story with a Rocky Start
Kelly admitted that she initially found Matthew to be too sweet and Southern, so she decided to date the backup quarterback to make him jealous. The plan worked, and Matthew eventually confronted Kelly about her relationship with the other quarterback.
"He would see my car there. At one point he waited and followed me into the car. I was like, ‘This is amazing, it’s working.’ I was like, ‘Get out of my car.’ He was like, ‘He’s not right for you.’ I was like, ‘What? You can’t tell me that,'" Kelly said.
Matthew Stafford and Kelly Stafford: A Love Story with a Rocky Start
It's unclear who Kelly was referring to, but during Stafford's time at Georgia, he played in front of Joe Tereshinski, Joe Cox, A.J. Bryant, and Mohamed Massaquoi. Out of these four, Cox is the only one to be at Georgia in all three of Stafford's seasons.
Kelly's plan to make Matthew jealous ultimately worked, but it wasn't without its challenges. Matthew and the backup quarterback were also roommates, which added an extra layer of awkwardness to the situation.
"They lived in the same dorm room because athletes lived in the same dorm room. He would see my car there. At one point he waited and followed me into the car. I was like, ‘This is amazing, it’s working.’ I was like, ‘Get out of my car.’ He was like, ‘He’s not right for you.’ I was like, ‘What? You can’t tell me that,'" Kelly said.
Despite the initial obstacles, Matthew and Kelly eventually got together and started dating. They got married in 2015 and have been happily married ever since. They have four daughters together, ages 3 to 7, with their two oldest being twins.
Matthew Stafford went on to have a successful NFL career, playing for the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams. He finally got the recognition he deserved after winning Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in 2022.
Kelly has been a supportive wife and mother throughout Matthew's career. She is often seen cheering him on from the sidelines and is always there for him, both on and off the field.
The Staffords are a close-knit family and are often seen spending time together at home or on vacation. They are a great example of a couple who overcame challenges to find love and happiness together.
