The 2025 NFL Draft concluded with a wave of emotional moments, top prospects realizing their dreams, and heartwarming red carpet appearances at Green Bay’s iconic Lambeau Field. But amidst all the celebration, a bold take by Kelly Stafford, wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, stirred quite a conversation across the NFL community.
Kelly Stafford blasts players for bringing girlfriends to NFL Draft
On her podcast The Morning After, released on April 24, Kelly issued a word of caution to young athletes about bringing their significant others to the Draft. Her reason? The uncertainty of relationships and the permanence of photos.
“I’m going to give you my honest opinion right now, I don’t see why guys do it,” said the 35-year-old. “Because if they do get drafted and you have all your family and you’re in the Draft and you have your girlfriend is in the Draft [pictures] — and then all of a sudden, girlfriend’s gone — you don’t have Draft pictures without a random girl.”
To some, this might sound harsh. But to Kelly, it's a practical take rooted in experience. She went on to compare the situation to including a non-engaged sibling’s partner in wedding pictures — a move that could later leave someone with photo albums filled with strangers.
“It’s like having your brother’s girlfriend in your wedding when they’re not engaged. And then all of a sudden you have all these photos with your family and the brother’s girlfriend,” she explained.
Kelly reflected on her own wedding in 2015, where she took that same gamble by including her brother Chad Hall’s girlfriend, Rose, as a bridesmaid. Luckily, Chad later married Rose. But Kelly admitted, “What happens if Rose didn’t marry Chad? And then she’s in all my wedding photos?”
Interestingly, despite dating Matthew during his own NFL Draft experience in 2009, Kelly wasn’t present in New York when he was selected No. 1 overall by the Detroit Lions. She confessed she hadn’t grasped the significance of the moment back then.
“I didn’t really understand the Draft situation when he was going through it,” she said. “But then as I get older and I have daughters, I kind of understand. He’s smart, Matthew’s smart. He didn’t know!”
Her message wasn’t just about preserving the aesthetic of family photos; it was about foresight. NFL Draft night is monumental — a moment often frozen in time by camera flashes and televised broadcasts. As Kelly pointed out, including someone who may not be part of your long-term future can unintentionally leave a lasting mark.
While her comments sparked mixed reactions online, the reality remains: many top prospects did attend the Draft with their partners. Travis Hunter , who went second overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, made headlines as he walked the red carpet with his fiancée Leanna Lenee. The couple looked radiant, with Hunter in a bold pink suit and Lenee in a classic black gown. They even posed with his mother, adding to the night’s emotional depth.
Kelly and Matthew Stafford, who now share four daughters — Sawyer, Chandler, Hunter, and Tyler — recently marked their 10th wedding anniversary. Yet Kelly remains candid about the complexities of married life.
“Marriage is f--ing hard,” she admitted on her April 3 podcast. “Anyone who tells you differently is fing lying through their teeth.”
Her openness, whether about marriage or the NFL Draft, offers a rare, unfiltered perspective that many appreciate — even if they don’t always agree.
As the 2025 NFL Draft fades into memory, one thing’s certain: while dreams were fulfilled and futures secured, Kelly Stafford’s brutally honest take added a layer of realism to an otherwise fairytale evening.
Also Read: Shedeur Sanders finally hears his name as Browns grab him with 144th pick in NFL draft
Kelly Stafford blasts players for bringing girlfriends to NFL Draft
On her podcast The Morning After, released on April 24, Kelly issued a word of caution to young athletes about bringing their significant others to the Draft. Her reason? The uncertainty of relationships and the permanence of photos.
“I’m going to give you my honest opinion right now, I don’t see why guys do it,” said the 35-year-old. “Because if they do get drafted and you have all your family and you’re in the Draft and you have your girlfriend is in the Draft [pictures] — and then all of a sudden, girlfriend’s gone — you don’t have Draft pictures without a random girl.”
To some, this might sound harsh. But to Kelly, it's a practical take rooted in experience. She went on to compare the situation to including a non-engaged sibling’s partner in wedding pictures — a move that could later leave someone with photo albums filled with strangers.
“It’s like having your brother’s girlfriend in your wedding when they’re not engaged. And then all of a sudden you have all these photos with your family and the brother’s girlfriend,” she explained.
Kelly reflected on her own wedding in 2015, where she took that same gamble by including her brother Chad Hall’s girlfriend, Rose, as a bridesmaid. Luckily, Chad later married Rose. But Kelly admitted, “What happens if Rose didn’t marry Chad? And then she’s in all my wedding photos?”
Interestingly, despite dating Matthew during his own NFL Draft experience in 2009, Kelly wasn’t present in New York when he was selected No. 1 overall by the Detroit Lions. She confessed she hadn’t grasped the significance of the moment back then.
“I didn’t really understand the Draft situation when he was going through it,” she said. “But then as I get older and I have daughters, I kind of understand. He’s smart, Matthew’s smart. He didn’t know!”
Her message wasn’t just about preserving the aesthetic of family photos; it was about foresight. NFL Draft night is monumental — a moment often frozen in time by camera flashes and televised broadcasts. As Kelly pointed out, including someone who may not be part of your long-term future can unintentionally leave a lasting mark.
While her comments sparked mixed reactions online, the reality remains: many top prospects did attend the Draft with their partners. Travis Hunter , who went second overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, made headlines as he walked the red carpet with his fiancée Leanna Lenee. The couple looked radiant, with Hunter in a bold pink suit and Lenee in a classic black gown. They even posed with his mother, adding to the night’s emotional depth.
Kelly and Matthew Stafford, who now share four daughters — Sawyer, Chandler, Hunter, and Tyler — recently marked their 10th wedding anniversary. Yet Kelly remains candid about the complexities of married life.
“Marriage is f--ing hard,” she admitted on her April 3 podcast. “Anyone who tells you differently is fing lying through their teeth.”
Her openness, whether about marriage or the NFL Draft, offers a rare, unfiltered perspective that many appreciate — even if they don’t always agree.
As the 2025 NFL Draft fades into memory, one thing’s certain: while dreams were fulfilled and futures secured, Kelly Stafford’s brutally honest take added a layer of realism to an otherwise fairytale evening.
Also Read: Shedeur Sanders finally hears his name as Browns grab him with 144th pick in NFL draft
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