Bills Legend Jim Kelly Admits Being ‘Unfaithful’ to His Wife During Son’s Diagnosis

When everything ‘looks’ normal, it sometimes isn’t really normal. That’s the one-line story of former Buffalo Bills quarterback and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly‘s personal life. Recently, he was on a Podcast where Jim expressed very important things about his tough times, and especially a tough relationship with the closest one. Kelly’s wife, Jill, has come under the spotlight after his honest confession. 

Jim Kelly was on a Podcast, Grace Begins. The 65-year-old football legend had a great time sharing a few unheard stories from his life. And one of those stories, in fact, a crystal clear fact, was his point of view on the relationship with his wife, Jill. He said that there was a tough time in his marriage when he and Jill lost interest in each other. Let’s see what Jim Kelly has said in detail. 

Jim Kelly said, “I know there are questions you probably have, but I’m just giving you my quick journey to get through some of this, because I was one of those guys that, when my son was diagnosed, I was on the road. I was working for ESPN. Then I was working, you know, worked for CBS, then ESPN. I was away from home a lot.” Then he shared a sad and boring relationship with his wife. 

Kelly added, “My wife was at home, and we were very blessed to have another child. It was another girl.  So I had two girls and my son, Hunter. And to be honest with you, it was a tough part of my life, not only for me, but for me and my wife. It was a struggle. We were not getting along very good. Every time I’d come home, there were four or five people in the house because nurses, doctors, and people were always coming around the house to take care of the kids. And I was bumming out.”

He then said that they both lost interest in each other. He married Jill on 18 May 1996. In February 1997, they gave birth to their 1st child, Hunter, who suffered from Krabbe disease. But just after his diagnosis, the couple was not feeling the same emotional connection with each other. 

Kelly further said, “Me and my wife, we pretty much lost interest in each other, even though Hunter was the only reason that we were still married. And then there’s so many things that went on between. I mean, nothing ever, ever physical. It’s just that I was not a, and I admit it now, and I manned up that I was not faithful.” It is hard to believe how Hunter kept his parents together without saying a word. But one thing is clear: The scar of disinterest between Jim and Jill is still there. It all started in 1997, and Jim has no doubt that the rift between the emotional attachments is still alive. 

Jim Kelly’s son kept mom and dad together

Jim once said that his son was the person who gelled him with his wife, Jill. This reflects how deeply Hunter changed his life. Hunter kept the husband and father in Jim Kelly, alive. Born in February 1997, Hunter was born with globoid-cell leukodystrophy, also known as Krabbe disease.

He fought against the disease so hard for eight freaking years. But unfortunately, on August 5, 2005, Hunter Kelly died at the age of eight. But before he died, Jim worked hard for children who were facing the same health issue. And that’s why he founded Hunter’s Hope. It was a non-profit organisation. One year before his son’s death, Jim Kelly founded the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute at the University of Buffalo in 2004. 

Jim dedicated his speech to Hunter during his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2002. While receiving the top accolade in Pro Football, the Bills legend said, “It’s been written that the trademark of my career was toughness.” He also added, “The toughest person I ever met in my life was my hero, my soldier, my son, Hunter. I love you, buddy.” Hunter Kelly will always be in Jim’s memories for toughness, grit, and grace.