Who Is Quarterback Desmond Ridder’s Wife, Claire Cornett?
Quarterback Desmond Ridder’s career in the NFL so far has been a roller coaster. After playing his college ball at the University of Cincinnati, he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He served as the backup to signal caller Marcus Mariota for much of his rookie season but took over the starting job in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.
Ridder remained the Falcons’ starter to begin the 2023 season but was demoted after Week 9 when the job was given to Taylor Heinicke. However, because Heinicke didn’t put together stellar numbers, the starting position went back to Ridder in Week 12.
Ridder failed to impress the Falcons enough to keep the job the next season and was traded to the Arizona Cardinals after the team signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. His stint with the Cards didn’t last long before the Las Vegas Raiders signed him in October 2024. With injuries to both Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, Ridder got his first start of the season in Week 15 against his old Falcons team.
Ahead of his big matchup, fans wanted to know more about Ridder and the woman who has been by his side through all his ups and downs. Here’s more on the athlete‘s wife, Claire Cornett.
Ridder and Cornett have been together since they were teenagers
Like Ridder, Cornett is also from Kentucky. The two met in 2016 when they were in high school.
They went on to attend the same college and after a few years of dating, Ridder popped the question and the pair tied the knot on July 21, 2022.
On their second anniversary, Ridder posted a sweet tribute to his wife via Instagram, writing: “Happy 2nd Anniversary to my Beautiful, Strong, Loving Wife! Thank you for loving me unconditionally through thick and thin and never missing a chance to make me laugh. You are the BEST Wife, Mother, and Friend that anyone could ask for.
“Here’s to many more years of Love, Life, and Happiness! I Love You more than you will ever know.”
Cornett knew nothing about football until she met her future husband
Cornett graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in political science. She works in sales at Max Retail, which is a digital marketplace that helps local businesses and brands sell their merchandise.
Cornett admitted that she knew “nothing” about the sport of football until she met her husband. In a 2021 social media post she wrote: “Boy have I come a long way for a girl who knew nothing about football 5 years ago.”
How many children do Ridder and Cornett have?
Today, Ridder and Cornett have two children together.
They welcomed their daughter, Leighton Elizabeth, in April 2021. Their son, Khylan Jett, arrived three years later.
The couple took to Instagram to announce the birth of baby No. 2 and shared their family of four portraits in a carousel of photos.
