Kelly Stafford Argues Why NFL Draft Players Shouldn’t Bring Their Girlfriends — After Her Husband Didn’t Bring Her

Kelly Stafford has an NFL Draft hot take.

The podcast host, 35, revealed her thoughts on top prospects bringing their significant others as dates to the NFL Draft when speaking on an episode of The Morning After released on Thursday, April 24.

Kelly was prompted to share her thoughts when her co-host, Hank Winchester, asked if she was in New York when her husband, Matthew Stafford, was drafted first overall by the Detroit Lions in 2009 — to which she replied “no,” then explained.

“I don’t see why guys do it because, if they do get drafted, and you have all your family and you’re in the draft, and you have your girlfriend and the girlfriend’s in the draft pics, and then all of the sudden, the girlfriend’s gone,” she said.

“You don’t have draft pictures without a random girl, and I know she’s not random when you’re taking it, but she might be random eventually,” she continued. “It’s a serious thing to consider.”

Matthew, 37, is currently the quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams. He and Kelly met at the University of Georgia and later tied the knot in 2015. Together, they share four kids: daughters Sawyer, Chandler, Hunter and Tyler.

Further explaining her stance, Kelly compared the significant other scenario on NFL Draft night to a bridal party and whether a partner of a sibling should be included in photos if they’re not engaged. They may break up, but the photos will remain.

“It’s like having your brother’s girlfriend in your wedding when they’re not engaged — and then all of the sudden… You have all these photos with your family and the brother’s girlfriend,” she said in the episode.

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Winchester wanted to clarify whether or not Kelly was “angry” that she “was not by Matthew’s side at the draft,” to which she explained, “I really didn’t understand the situation when he was going through it, but then as I get older and I have daughters, I kind of understand.”

Kelly concluded, “I have no advice for any of the girlfriends that are going, cause I didn’t go.”

The 2025 NFL Draft kicked off round one of three on Thursday, April 24. Many of the top prospects brought their significant others as dates to the anticipated event held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

Among them was Travis Hunter, who smiled alongside his fiancée Leanna Lenee on the red carpet before the NFL Draft began. She then embraced him after he was selected second overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, just behind No. 1 pick Cam Ward, who went to the Tennessee Titans.

The former Colorado Buffaloes star wore a bright pink suit jacket over a black shirt and coordinating pants while Lenee opted for a strapless black gown. They posed with the athlete’s mom, Ferrante Edmonds, too.