Kelly Stafford Gives Her Best Relationship Advice After 10 Years of Marriage with Matthew Stafford

Kelly Stafford is getting candid about how she’s been able to keep her marriage to NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford going strong.

The podcaster shared in the Thursday, April 3 episode of her The Morning After podcast that she and her pro-football husband were celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary on Friday, April 4, in a low-key way. 

“We have a gymnastics competition in Pasadena, and then we might go stay at a hotel and send the kids home and just go to dinner or something,” Kelly shared.

“Our life is different than ten years ago where we had all the time,” she continued. “We don't have that time anymore, and we both didn't want to miss competition to be honest… our kids have worked really hard on this so we want to be there to support you know the whole the whole thing.”

She noted that one of the keys to the success of their decade-long marriage (the pair tied the knot in 2015) is “constant maintenance.” Despite life getting busy — especially with four daughters: Sawyer, Chandler, Hunter and Tyler — she and Matthew still continue to try to find private moments with each other.

“This is huge for Matthew and I,” she said. “We tend to get in a routine with either kids or with a season or families coming down that we always put each other last because we're like, you know, ‘You're good, you're good.’ And it is a huge struggle in our marriage…”

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However, she said that her sister gave her some good advice on this, which she still refers to today: “She said, ‘It doesn't have to be anything extravagant. It doesn't have to be a crazy date night at a really nice restaurant where you're spending quality time. It could be that you go on the back porch and you open a beer together and you just sit and you hang out.' "

Another thing she said was essential to their marriage was “healthy conflict” and explained that fighting was key to growing in the marriage, as there will be conflicts over things such as how to raise the children.

“There can be a lot of just, you know, intense feelings going on, but to make sure there's a safe space that you both can talk without being judged for it,” Kelly suggested.

“And like at the end of the day, you married this person. At one point in your life, you said, ‘I'm going to spend the rest of my life with this person.’ Give yourselves the benefit of both of you at least trying to make it work and then if it doesn't I understand,” she added.

Her final piece of marriage advice to couples was to try to “adapt” with the changes that come with your partner in time. She noted that most couples are going to “change individually” — and even she and Matthew have had to change with the tides.

“Matthew and I, we've known each other for a long time now,” Kelly said. “You can't expect the person you marry at 25 to be the exact same person at 45. People evolve, priorities shift, and life circumstances change.” 

“The most successful couples are the ones who adapt and grow together,” she continued. “This means being open to new experiences and giving one another space to evolve without being threatened by it.”