Matthew Stafford and Kelly Stafford: 5 Things to Know About the NFL It Couple

It’s Super Bowl week, which means it’s time to stalk all the NFL players and their wives—for science, of course!

Today we’re obsessed with Matthew Stafford and Kelly Stafford, the L.A. Rams’ It couple. After nearly 12 years in Detroit, the family packed up and moved to the West Coast after Matthew was signed as the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles team. 

Ahead of Super Bowl weekend, you’ll definitely be seeing quite a lot of Matthew and Kelly Stafford. So let’s get to know their relationship better, shall we? 

Kelly is a cancer survivor. 

In 2019, Kelly was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a slow-growing tumor perched on her nerve from the ear to her brain, after dealing with spells of being lightheaded. Once diagnosed, Kelly jumped into a 12-hour surgery to get it removed. In a personal essay written for ESPN, Kelly opened up about the transformative experience and how it made her realize family was the most important thing in her life. 

“If there’s anything I want people to take away from my story, it’s for mothers,” Kelly Stafford wrote. “If you ever feel the slightest bit off, you need to take the time to get it checked out. You don’t have to put everything on your back. Sometimes you need to take some time to make sure you are okay.”

They’re a family of six.

Kelly and Matthew Stafford are the parents to four adorable girls—twins Sawyer and Chandler, Hunter, and Tyler. You’ve seen a lot of them if you’re on Kelly’s IG. And of course, supporting their dad is a family endeavor; they’re constantly in matching blue and yellow Rams-inspired outfits. Kelly has also been extremely transparent about her fertility issues, documenting her journey to get pregnant via IVF with Sawyer and Chandler on her Instagram. 

The pair met in college.

Just like many other NFL couples, Matthew and Kelly met at school. At the University of Georgia, she was a cheerleader and he was the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback. Although it’s unclear when they started dating, the two tied the knot in Atlanta. 

Mathew’s big break with the Rams came after a Cabo trip with his wife.

The couple went to Mexico on vacation and coincidentally checked in to the same hotel as Sean McVay—the head coach for the Los Angeles team. All within the span of 36 hours, sports reporter Jay Glazer said that the former Detroit Lions player became the Rams’ starting quarterback. 

Kelly runs a podcast.

The Morning After chronicles Kelly’s life as a wife and mother while reflecting on the most heartwarming (or cringiest!) moments—whether it be the moment she realized her husband was going to the Super Bowl or when they went on vacay alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. You can stream it now on Spotify.