Is starting Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder married? Who is his former high school sweetheart, now wife?
Desmond Ridder, Claire Cornett Married in 2022
Claire Cornett and her husband are incredibly young. They are both 23 years old. They’ve been married for one year, tying the knot in July of 2022.
Cornett and Ridder are high school sweethearts, attending school in Louisville, Kentucky, and have been dating since 2016. The couple went to the University of Cincinnati, where Cornett got her degree in political science in 2020.
Congratulations to Mary Claire Cornett for earning 5th place at the IHSA National Championships!
We are so proud of you for your hard work and determination and blessed to have you on this team! pic.twitter.com/b36bHlbDlG
— MSU Equestrian Team (@MSU_Equestrian) May 7, 2018
Cornett has a background in sales and currently works at Max Retail, an online marketplace that allows independent retailers and brands to sell their inventory.
Ridder and Cornett engaged in 2018 when Ridder popped the question. The couple came together in holy matrimony four years later, just one year after their daughter, Leighton Elizabeth, was born in 2021.
This couple is getting all of their major adult life milestones out of the way, and they’re barely able to legally drink.
Congrats to @desmondridder and his wife Claire on getting married this past weekend! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Q7PTRbDMsK
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 21, 2022
Who Is Desmond Ridder?
Most people recognize Cornett’s husband as the second-string QB for the Falcons in 2022 behind Marcus Mariota, starting a few games at the end of the season.
Ridder has stayed mostly under the radar despite having lived a fascinating life.
He was born to his mother, Sarah, when she was just 15 years old. He was raised by his mother with the help of his grandmother, Jan.
The NFL quarterback has described his relationship with his mother in an interview, saying:
“We were able to guide each other. It was open and free. I’m not going to say there wasn’t strictness and parenting, but a lot of things she let me learn on my own. She was always going to be there, but you don’t always have to ask for help. She let me be independent but guided me when I needed it.”
Desmond Ridder and family.
It's showtime.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/tbTXmauGrY
— Keith Jenkins (@MrKeithJenkins) April 29, 2022
Ridder’s father was never involved in his life. However, Sarah did remarry, and his stepfather has been present in his life since he was five years old.
Ridder also has a half-sister, Tia. She is currently attending the same high school that Cornett attended.
Tia is a varsity softball player, and she would like to pursue sports further, following in her brother’s footsteps.
Cornett and Ridders as Parents
Ridder loves fatherhood and has embraced the term “girl dad” wholeheartedly.
Ridder may have developed the skill of checkdowns, but he found himself back in the classroom when he tackled being a parent.
Things like assembling and reassembling his daughter’s crib with Cornett got the best of him. They always say the best relationship test is building things together.
Ridder didn’t know that much pink furniture could physically fit into one home. Get used to that one, Ridder!
desmond ridder with baby girl.he knows how to play qb and be a good father and he gets wins for his team https://t.co/zxsXKaT03I
— sonya (@sonyavikingsfan) November 22, 2021
The NFL quarterback actually played college ball one more season because of the birth of his daughter.
He didn’t want to mix the stress of change and inconsistency associated with getting drafted in another city, transitioning to the NFL, and the birth of his daughter. Ridder puts family first.
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Having a husband in the NFL can put a lot of stress and responsibility on the shoulders of their significant others, but Cornett is dedicated to her family.
Ridder and Leighton are lucky to have Claire in their lives!