Kelly Stafford and reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford have been together since their days at the University of Georgia, where she was a cheerleader and he was the star quarterback who would go on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
The two married in 2015 and have built a life around football, raising four daughters as Stafford climbed toward winning the Super Bowl and the league MVP. Kelly has always been fiercely protective of her husband, and a recent Instagram Q&A proved that hasn’t changed.
Kelly Stafford Points Out a Problem With Media’s Coverage of Matthew Stafford
During a recent Q&A session on her Instagram account, a user asked Kelly a simple question: “Does it bother you when people call you Matt?”
“When people don’t know him, they call him Matt,” Kelly replied. “What gets me is that he’s been playing in the league now for close to 2 decades, and people who have jobs reporting on it still call him Matt. I find it highly disrespectful, but honestly kinda goes along with Matthew’s whole career.”
The comment touched on a theme Kelly has returned to repeatedly over the years: the idea that her husband doesn’t receive the recognition his career warrants.
Stafford’s legal first name is John Matthew Stafford, and he has always gone by Matthew. For reporters who cover the league professionally, using the correct name is a small but meaningful detail, and Kelly made clear she notices when they get it wrong.
Hopefully, the people who cover the league will start referring to the Los Angeles Rams quarterback as “Matthew” instead of “Matt.”
Stafford Has a New Understudy in Ty Simpson
The Rams surprised everyone when they selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The pick was unexpected because Stafford is coming off an MVP season and shows no signs of slowing down at 38.
Rams head coach Sean McVay was direct about the hierarchy, making it clear that “this is Matthew’s team,” and that Simpson will compete with Stetson Bennett for the backup position.
The Rams and Stafford have also made significant progress on a contract extension that would keep him in Los Angeles beyond 2026, and Simpson is unlikely to start anytime soon.
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Kelly, for her part, welcomed Simpson warmly. The rookie revealed during his introductory press conference that Kelly had already reached out via Instagram to welcome him and his family.
With Stafford still firmly in command, Simpson’s role for now is to learn from one of the most productive quarterbacks in NFL history. That mentorship window could prove invaluable for Los Angeles whenever the transition eventually comes.