Matt Leinart Shares How ‘Lack of Confidence’ Ended His Date with Rihanna

While he was known for holding tight to the football during his college days, Matt Leinart recounts a different kind of fumble—a date with pop sensation Rihanna.

In a candid conversation on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Leinart revealed how a lack of confidence led to a less-than-stellar encounter with the future Grammy powerhouse, Rihanna.

When reminded of the encounter, Leinart could only lower his head, expressing with a wry smile, “Oh God, are we really diving into that topic?”

Patrick pressed for details on how things went awry on this high-profile date, to which Leinart confessed he simply wasn’t at the top of his game.

“Back then, I was just a young Matt, not brimming with confidence,” Leinart admitted during the show. “You might have assumed I had it all together, but in truth, I didn’t.”

In July, 2025, Leinart shocked the world when he revealed on his podcast, “Throwbacks,” that he took Rihanna on a date and blew it.

Leinart, 43, admitted that the reason he wasn’t feeling confident in himself was because of a blister that emerged on his lip the day of their date.

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The former two-time national champion and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback told Patrick that prior to their brief time dating each other, the two were actually friends and met each other through a mutual friend.

“Her assistant, and sort of still right-hand girl, still to this day, I was friends with; she grew up with one of my best friends,” Leinart said.

While it’s been years since Leinart and Rihanna’s paths crossed in the dating scene, the pop star has moved on from the former USC legend, as she has three kids now with rapper A$AP Rocky.

Leinart is also happily married to former actress and attorney Josie Loren, and they have four children together, including their oldest son, Cole, who is on scholarship as a freshman quarterback at SMU.

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