Donna Kells says she had to 'stay put' in her marriage to Ed Kells: 'We were together for the kids'

Donna Kells has opened up about her ill-fated marriage to Ed Kells, saying the pair were married all these years “for the kids”.

The proud mom, whose sons are NFL champs Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce, graces the cover of Glamor for its “2024 Women of the Year: The Moms” issue alongside Beyoncé and Solange's mother Tina Knowles; Maggie Baird, mother of Billie Eilish and Phineas; and Selena Gomez's mother Mandy Teefey.

“I was a commercial banker in a bank in different states. I wanted to move on. I work really, really hard. I was the main breadwinner in the family,” Donna, 71, told the outlet.

“And I think it's important for kids to see that a woman can do whatever she wants, but I was also determined.”

She continued, “My husband and I knew our marriage wasn't working, but we were together for the kids.

“We had a very friendly relationship. So, we could do that and make sure their lives were as normal as possible. But for that one thing, I was stuck for a few years until I could move on by myself.”

It is not clear when exactly the couple separated.

Travis and Jason discussed their parents' relationship in the Amazon Prime Sports documentary “Kells,” released last year.

“I knew my mom and dad's situation was different than other parents,” Travis said. “I would go to another house and have sleepovers and the other parents were staying in the same room, and my parents didn't live in the same room.”

“I started making those connections when I was in middle school, and I realized that they would probably fall apart — but they stayed together for me and Jason's benefit, I believe,” added the 3-time Super Bowl champ. Barr's Super Bowl champ added.

In the documentary, Ed explains that he and Donna had to make sacrifices to be able to pursue their sons' NFL dreams.

“If we had split we probably would have both liked it, but it would have been a nightmare with the logistics, getting the kids where they needed to be and providing all the support,” she said.

Donna agreed, finding that time “difficult” while juggling parenting.

“You're just trying to keep it together when you're a parent,” she said. “It's hard.”

The mother of two previously explained during an episode of her son's “New Heights” podcast that she and Ed met by chance at a Cleveland bar when she was actually going on another date.

The pair “talked forever,” Donna said, and she never went on to meet the other man.

Elsewhere in the Glamor cover story, Donna opens up about motherhood, saying that “being a mom is probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.”

“It's easy to just go to work, but raising kids, when they're totally dependent on you and you're trying to do the best you can with the limited resources you have, is the hardest job I've ever had. Ever had to,” he added.