Kennedy Stidham, the wife of Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham, took to social media after the Broncos came up just short in the AFC Championship Game.
“We love this team, we love this city,” Kennedy wrote via her Instagram Story on Sunday, January 25. “Thank you for the kindest support all week. This city is so special, this team is so special. We wanted this so badly for everyone.”
The Broncos lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots on Sunday, after Jarrett, 29, was thrown into starting quarterback duties after Broncos star Bo Nix suffered an ankle injury during the team’s Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills on January 17.
Jarrett started the game strong, throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton on the Broncos’ second drive of the game.
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However, snowy and blustery conditions swept into Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High shortly after the touchdown drive, making it nearly impossible for either offense to produce and the Broncos would not score again.
Jarrett and Kennedy got married in 2019 after meeting while attending Baylor University.
The couple share three children: daughter Lennon, born in 2022, son Madden, born in 2024, and daughter Nella, born in October 2025.
Jarrett finished 17-for-31 passing for 133 yards. An interception by Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez helped seal the victory for New England with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
“It was fun to get back out there with the guys,” Jarrett told reporters after the game.
“Moments like this, this is why you play the game, why you grow up and play the game of football, all the long hours that you put into it. … This is why we do what we do.”
He added, “I was super excited for the opportunity, just hate that we fell short.”
It was the first start for Jarrett, who was drafted by the Patriots in 2019, since the end of the 2023 season.
His performance on Sunday will largely be remembered by a play in the second quarter, when he fumbled the ball away in Denver territory. The Patriots scored their only touchdown of the game two plays later.
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“Obviously, I can’t put our team in a bad position like that,” Jarrett said after the game. “I was trying to throw it away to (Broncos running back Tyler Badie). He was in the area, and, yeah, the pressure, (Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss) just got up on me real fast, and I was just trying to get rid of it.”
Jarrett added, “That was completely on me. … I thought I’d thrown it forwards, and then obviously the replay, or whatever, said differently. So yeah, like I said, just, probably should have just eaten the sack anyway, and let [Broncos punter] Jeremy Crawshaw and the punt team punt it down the field and flip the field.”
Broncos head coach, Sean Payton, credited Jarrett for his effort during the loss.
“I thought he fought hard in tough conditions,’” Payton, 62, said. “I think we’re going to look at the film, and I know I’m going to look at it and be critical of myself. There were a number of things we had to do better. We didn’t finish some runs, we dropped some passes again, and that was a problem all year.”
