It is not often that the wife of an NFL player gets more screen time than the player himself. But if you are a sports a fan, you may recognize Lisa Kerney from her role as a studio anchor at ESPN. This former collegiate athlete turned one of the best sports anchors in the business, is also the wife of 11-year Pro-Bowl NFL veteran, Patrick Kerney. When I first met Lisa, she was a local sports reporter in love with her cute new boyfriend. Nearly seven years later, Lisa and I had a chance to catch up to talk football, friendship, and family.
Patrick once told my husband that he knew he was smitten when he found himself enjoying the experience of watching a marathon of chick flicks with you. When did you know that Patrick was the one?
The first day we met! That sounds so cliché but you could say I called my shot! Here's the story...I was covering the Seahawks press conference when he was introduced as their new free agent signing back in 2007. When he walked into the room where all of us media were waiting...I thought to myself, "He's really handsome!" Following the formal presser, I asked for a 1-on-1 extended interview to air on our Northwest Sports Tonight Show and when we talked there was something very different about him. I went back to my office to work on my story for the 5pm news on KING and jokingly told all my guys that I was going to marry Patrick Kerney. We didn't talk anymore about it, went about our business and Patrick and I started dating about 9 months later. I knew I had met my best friend that day.
What was it like for you to be at the games as Patrick’s girlfriend and fiancé instead of just being an unbiased reporter at the games?
We were married the summer after Patrick retired but throughout the course of our dating and engagement we made every effort to keep our professional lives separate from our personal life. We intentionally avoided socializing at any work events and stayed super low key on our own time. I can honestly say I didn't feel much of a difference once the public knew Patrick and I were together and maybe that's because we were so secure in our relationship that we didn't pay attention. I am extremely blessed to have married my best friend and greatest supporter. It's definitely a partnership that works thanks to a great understanding of each other's professional obligations (and sacrifices) and our efforts to maintain a healthy balance of quality family time.
There was such a great group of women on the team when you and Patrick met. What is your favorite memory of time with other NFL wives during his playing days?
There were five of us wives that lunched about once a week. We called ourselves "Ladies that Lunch!" So fancy, right?! The funny thing is...we were far from it! Nothing uppity at all. We'd get together in jeans and sweats and just talk...and eat! It was such a fun time connecting, relaxing and talking through certain challenges or not talking about football at all. Sometimes we'd have potlucks at one of our houses (with amazing home cooked comfort food and way-too-fattening desserts!) while our husbands/fiancés were on the road and watch the game together. That was intense...and I loved the time we shared together!
You have had some fun jobs since Patrick’s playing days ended. You were the morning sports anchor for CBS New York while he got his MBA at Columbia and now you work for ESPN as a SportsCenter host. You are also the mother to two beautiful girls. What is the most exciting part of your day to day life?
The absolute most blissful moment of my day is getting our daughters out of their beds in the morning. I love a fresh start to the day and get to snuggle them all over again! Nothing compares to those special moments!
As for my work day, things start clicking at a super fast pace when breaking news comes in. I love being on the front end of bringing this news to our viewers on the fly. At ESPN, we write a large part of our own scripts which I cherish. Editorial control and having the opportunity to exercise my creative side is important. I also work with some of the most talented producers and anchors in the business. Our production meetings can get intense (in a fun way) while we all throw out our ideas and talk about how to execute new and fun elements in our amazing new studios. Conceptualizing our show each day from the beginning is exciting!
In 2013, Patrick joined the NFL as the Vice President of Player Benefits and NFL Legends Operations. I read that it was his goal to make the NFL a life-long positive experience for the players. How has your affiliation as an NFL wife continued to be a great thing for you and your family?
I think sometimes it’s easy to get wrapped up in the season or the moment and the exciting life you lead while you're in the league and the plan for life after football becomes an afterthought. It's been said the NFL stands for "Not For Long" and it's true. These guys have such a blessed opportunity to follow their passion of playing this game and making good money at a young age. It's Patrick's mission to help players hang on to that money and make it grow. There are so many programs and financial-literacy initiatives available to players and Patrick hopes to help simplify the information and make it more accessible. It's a win-win situation for Patrick. He's able to connect with players and former players on the ground level to help them create freedom and a lifetime of opportunity for themselves and their families.
As for Patrick's experience in the NFL, it's given me a unique perspective and appreciation for the players that play this great game we love. Our girls will grow up and one day realize the great role model daddy is and the hard work he put in on the field for our life down the road.
What advice would you give women whose husbands are new to the NFL?
Reach out to the other wives and become involved. This experience—even the longest careers—is short, so enjoy the ride. Be candid with your husbands about concerns and expectations. Patrick and I had many open conversations (even before we were married) about budget, kids, and other major potential marital issues and it helped set a baseline that both of us were comfortable with and could hold each other to. Lastly, be a teammate to your husband. Respect the demands of his unique job, support the heck out of him and cook him an extra plate of pasta at 10 o'clock at night when it's late in the season and he needs to keep his weight up!
Great advice! It was great to catch up. Thank you for your time! We wish you and Patrick all of the luck in the world with your family and careers.