Kelly Stafford recently opened up about letting jealousy get the best of her when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship took the NFL world by storm. During the latest episode of her podcast, “The Morning After,” Stafford addressed the comments she made earlier this year about the heightened attention surrounding the couple, acknowledging that her feelings were influenced by jealousy.
Stafford explained that there seemed to be a lingering cloud over her due to her earlier remarks about Swift. She emphasized that she is, in fact, a fan of the pop superstar and has never disliked her.
“I feel like there is just this… cloud hanging over with this Taylor Swift thing. Now, I have never once said I didn’t like Taylor Swift—ever,” Stafford told her co-host, Hank Winchester. “But I will say I kind of got tired of the Chiefs’ coverage of it—actually the NFL’s coverage of this budding relationship last year. And, can she do anything about that? No, she can’t.”
Stafford acknowledged that the NFL’s coverage of Swift and Kelce’s relationship was a smart business decision, as it generated significant buzz and viewership.
However, she admitted that she felt it was overshadowing the actual games, which bothered her. “It was a good business decision for the NFL, but I almost felt like it was outshining the games. I think that’s what bothered me,” she said. “I was a little jealous of the fact that they were getting all this attention and all of a sudden the football game was the sideshow. So yeah, maybe I let jealousy get the best of me.”
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Despite her initial frustrations, Stafford and her husband, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, recently took their four daughters—twins Sawyer and Chandler, 7, Hunter, 6, and Tyler, 4—to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in New Orleans. The trip came months after Stafford had expressed her irritation with the constant coverage of Swift and Kelce’s romance dominating the NFL space. During an earlier episode of her podcast in May, Stafford said, “I don’t know if I want to see another four months of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce coverage.”
Stafford admitted that she knew attending Swift’s concert would likely lead to backlash given her previous comments. “I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I’ve always loved Taylor Swift and her music,” she explained. “I was a fan of hers when she was a country star because her and I are the same age. I kind of grew up listening to her music. It’s always positive.”
Reflecting on her feelings, Stafford revealed that her jealousy stemmed from seeing the spotlight shift away from the players, including her husband. “Going to the concert I knew there was going to be ‘backlash’… Why was I feeling that way? And it really was, I had some jealousy issues of the fact that she all of a sudden became the main show in NFL football or their relationship,” Stafford shared. “And I watch my husband work his ass off and I watch all these guys who play for the league work their asses off, and all of a sudden they’re like the sideshow. So that is where that kind of came from.”
Despite her initial feelings, Stafford expressed gratitude for the positive impact Swift’s presence has had on the NFL, particularly in bringing in new viewers. “But I’m so thankful for her in a lot of ways because there are so many more women, there are little girls watching with their dads, and it definitely makes my girls love football more knowing that she’s adjacent to it,” Stafford said.
“Honestly, I think my girls are prouder of their dad because he’s playing the sport Taylor Swift loves… But that concert, holy s–t.” Stafford said, adding that the Eras Tour was an experience her family would never forget.
The Staffords surprised their daughters with the trip to New Orleans to see Swift in concert, creating a memorable experience for the young girls. Kelly decorated a private plane with friendship bracelets, balloons, and sparkling outfits for her daughters, who were beaming with excitement when they boarded the aircraft.
She shared a video of the sweet moment on social media, capturing the pure joy of her children.
The family enjoyed the concert from the VIP section, where Matthew Stafford was even seen chatting with Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift. “Matthew talked to the Dad for a bit,” Kelly shared. “He was very, very kind.”
The trip was a special bonding experience for the Stafford family, and it seems that Kelly’s feelings toward the Swift-Kelce spotlight have evolved into a deeper appreciation for the positive effect it has had on her family and on the sport.
