Former Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos has a surprising connection to the 2026 Super Bowl.
“I know Stefon Diggs because my daughter dated him,” Vassos, 63, revealed during the iHeartRadio “Almost Famous” podcast episode released on Saturday, February 7. “When she was in high school. She was a senior in high school, and he went to a high school that was down the road. So, she dated him.”
The former reality star added, “He came over to my house all the time. I have pictures of him with my family.”
Vassos said that Diggs, 32, has the same birthday as her late husband, John.
“We took him to Morton’s [steakhouse] for dinner,” she continued. “I have a picture of them at Morton’s.”
Vassos’ daughter, Ally Vassos, has since moved on. She’s married to husband Noah Joseph and has a son named Boomer. Diggs, meanwhile, has been making headlines for his relationship (or lack thereof) with Cardi B.
As Vassos made her admission about Diggs, the New England Patriots wide receiver and Cardi, 33, sparked split rumors. Eagle-eyed fans started to wonder if there was trouble in paradise between the two when Cardi had an interesting message for Diggs while attending the Fanatics Super Bowl Party on Saturday.
“Good luck,” she said, seemingly offering some side eye, when asked to share a message to Diggs ahead of Super Bowl LX. (The Patriots lost to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13 on Sunday, February 8.)
Following the Patriots’ loss, fans noticed that Cardi and Diggs had unfollowed each other on Instagram, further adding speculation to breakup rumors.
Cardi and Diggs first sparked romance rumors in October 2024 when they were spotted at a club together. The duo continued to make public appearances in the months that followed. Cardi took things Instagram official in June 2025.
“It was very tough, but it is what it is. It’s tough hiding,” Cardi told Billboard in September 2025, explaining what it was like to have a second public romance following her divorce. “It’s tough dating in your 30s, too, but I like him. I love him today. I was always scared of dating people [because] I’ve always been in a long relationship since I was, like, 21.”
In September 2025, Cardi confirmed that she and Diggs were expecting their first child together. By November of that year, she had given birth to their son. (Cardi is also the mother to three kids with ex Offset. Diggs has five other children from prior relationships.)
Despite split rumors, Cardi still showed up at Super Bowl LX on Sunday. She made a surprise appearance in the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show starring Bad Bunny. The rapper danced alongside A-listers like Jessica Alba, Alix Earle, Pedro Pascal and Karol G. She has yet to publicly address split rumors.
Cardi has not been shy about her love for Diggs in the past, even praising his worth ethic in a September 2025 interview.
“He has to be in bed at a certain time and wake up at a certain time,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh. You’re literally in the military. You really work hard.’ I work hard, but I can take a little break. I can lay back and I don’t have to be running, but it’s very inspirational to see how hard somebody works. It’s just like, ‘Wow. You should be proud of yourself.’”
