Who is Joe Cox? Meet the Former Georgia Bulldogs Quarterback Caught in the 'Storm' of Kelly Stafford's Love Life

Matthew Stafford’s wife, Kelly Stafford, recently gained attention after revealing that she dated her husband’s backup quarterback in college to make him jealous.

As her statements sent fans into a frenzy, many tried to identify what support she used to get a reaction from the Los Angeles Rams star.

Joe Cox, who played for the Bulldogs with Stafford, saw his name thrown into the media storm. Amid the brawl, Kelly publicly apologized to the father of three for his unsolicited involvement in the controversy.

Here, DailyMail.com takes a look at the life of Joe Cox, the former Georgia quarterback turned Alabama coach.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Cox headed further south for college to play for the University of Georgia in 2005 after being named Tar Heel State’s Gatorade Player of the Year during his senior year at Independence High School.

Joe Cox was caught in a media firestorm following Kelly Stafford’s recent comments

Kelly previously went on a podcast and admitted she was dating one of her husband’s backup players in college – but has now insisted the man in question was not Cox.

While Cox was a highly sought-after recruit, the Bulldogs signed Stafford during his sophomore year and placed Cox on the depth chart.

Stafford remained in Athens from 2006 to 2008, during which time his college romance with Kelly Hall began. It was around this time that the former cheerleader’s infamous dating story took place.

Cox returned to the starting position for the Bulldogs in 2009 before earning his bachelor’s degree in psychology.

As an offensive captain, Cox led UGA to an 8-5 record and was named Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week for his five-touchdown, 375-yard performance at Arkansas. Cox completed 56 percent of his passes for 3,016 yards and 29 touchdowns during his NCAA career.

After graduation, Cox returned to the Queen City and took a coaching position at Mallard Creek High School. He then moved on to success at the collegiate level before landing in Tuscaloosa.

The Staffords – now married – had a rocky start to their relationship in college

Cox (left) and Joe Tereshinski (right) were backup quarterbacks at Georgia while Stafford started, but the identity of the mystery player has yet to be revealed.

Cox landed in Georgia after a successful high school career at Independence High School (NC)

Cox was named North Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior season.

Cox was a graduate assistant at Colorado State before becoming their tight end coach for three seasons (2016-18) and wide receivers coach in his final year in Fort Collins.

Cox helped propel the Rams’ offense into one of the most productive seasons in school history. CSU recorded two of the five best seasons in school history and two of the four best marks for total offense with Cox on the team, including a school record 492.5 yards per game in 2017.

In 2019, the Rams ranked 14th in the nation in passing offense, averaging 305.3 yards per game.

From there, he spent the 2020 season coaching receivers at South Carolina before joining the Crimson Tide in February 2022 as Nick Saban’s tight ends coach.

Cox became a backup upon Stafford’s arrival in Athens, but returned to the starting role in 2009.

After graduation, Cox coached at Colorado State and South Carolina before joining Alabama.

Kelly apologized to Joe and his wife Erica for their unsolicited involvement in the media storm.

Cox and his wife Erica married in March 2016. The couple share a daughter, Aver, and twins, Jace and Tate. Although the length of their relationship is not public, Stafford’s apology suggests that Joe met Erica while playing for the Bulldogs.

“To this beautiful family… I’m sorry for the media storm that happened last week and made its way into your lives,” she wrote in an Instagram story with an image of Joe, his wife Erica and their three children.

Kelly then praised Joe and Erica – who was also a Bulldogs cheerleader – for being the couple she and Matthew “looked up to.”

“You had no involvement in what I talked about and in fact it was your relationship in college that I admired and wanted for me and Matthew,” she continued.

“You were the couple that everyone thinks Matthew and I were…you were all the UGA QB and cheerleader that met and never let each other go. I love you all.’