Kelly Stafford was caught off guard when she felt the wrath of some Swifties.
The wife of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford recalled facing “heat” from fans of Taylor Swift after she said in a previous episode of her podcast, “The Morning After”, that the NFL’s coverage of the popstar was “outshining” the games.
Swift, who’s boyfriend is Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was praised by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for bringing a whole new fanbase to the league, which saw an uptick in viewership in the 2023-24 season — when the couple went public with their relationship.
“Honestly, I did get a lot of heat from them,” Kelly told Us Weekly. “I was like, ‘Whoa, I love Taylor.’
Kelly Stafford discussed Taylor Swift during an episode of her podcast, “The Morning After” in November 2024.The Morning After/YouTube
“When you’re constantly seeing someone on your social media every scroll, you kind of lose that love, you know?” Kelly explained. “That’s what I was saying. I was like, ‘I’m seeing her every second, I’m never wondering about what she’s doing.’”
Taylor Swift celebrates with Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs after defeating the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri.Getty Images
Kelly explained that she was hurt by some negative comments.
“Comments that are mean, they hurt my feelings,” she said. “I have feelings and I’m not going to sit here and act like I don’t. I’ve tried to develop some thick skin to understand what my values are and sticking to those regardless of what people say about me.
“It’s scary because, even as an adult, my self confidence is intertwined with people that are commenting who don’t even know me.”
Kelly previously said she was “tired” of all the attention Swift received, but she understood it.
“It was a good business decision for the NFL, but I almost felt like it was outshining the games,” she said last November. “I think that’s what bothered me. 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.”
Taylor Swift arrives at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Kelly made it clear that she is a fan of Swift, having previously taken her four daughters — twins Sawyer and Chandler, 7, Hunter, 6 and 4-year-old Tyler — to one of the singer’s concerts on her Eras World tour, which wrapped last December.
Kelly added that she thinks the Swift should be shown on the Fox broadcast when the Chiefs and the Eagles face off in Super Bowl 2025 in New Orleans on Sunday.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife Kelly Stafford with their four daughters.Instagram/Kelly Stafford
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrates with his wife, Kelly Hall, after winning the NFL NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif.AP
“For sure, you show her. She’s doing the same thing I’m doing or [wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes] Brittany Mahomes is doing,” Kelly said. “She’s there supporting the man that she loves. If you’re gonna show families, you’re gonna show family. She is Travis Kelce’s family. So, you’re definitely going to show her.”
Kelly and Stafford also dressed as Swift and Kelce for Halloween last year.
