The story of Spencer Webb girlfriend, Kelly Kay, isn't just another headline about a college athlete's partner. It’s a heavy, complicated saga that fundamentally changed how we look at grief in the digital age. Most people know the broad strokes: the tragic cliff-diving accident, the shock of a sudden death at 22, and the pregnancy announcement that followed. But the actual reality of Kelly Kay’s life over the last few years is way more nuanced than a three-minute TikTok tribute can capture.
Honestly, it’s been a whirlwind of extreme highs and devastating lows that would break most people.
Who is Kelly Kay?
Before she was known as Spencer Webb's girlfriend, Kelly Kay was already a significant presence online. She’s a model and influencer who famously made headlines back in 2020 for a Super Bowl LIV streaking incident. People often try to pigeonhole her based on that one moment, but her life took a drastically more serious turn when she started dating the Oregon Ducks star tight end.
The two were inseparable. If you followed them back then, you saw the "power couple" energy they radiated. They were young, athletic, and seemingly invincible. Then came July 13, 2022.
The Day That Changed Everything
You've probably heard the news reports, but the details are still gut-wrenching. Spencer was at Triangle Lake in Oregon, a popular spot for cliff diving and rock sliding. He fell and struck his head. It was a freak accident.
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Here is the part most people don't realize: Kelly was actually there. She wasn't just a girlfriend waiting at home for a phone call. She has since shared in interviews, specifically with People magazine, that Spencer basically passed away in her arms. She was the one who pulled him out of the water. She held him until paramedics arrived, but by then, it was too late.
Imagine that. One minute you're on a summer outing with your favorite person, and ten minutes later, your entire world is gone.
The Pregnancy No One Saw Coming
Just one week after Spencer’s funeral, Kelly found out she was pregnant. She has been very open about how bittersweet that was. In her own words, it was the "second to worst thing" to happen to her, right after the death itself. Why? Because she had to navigate the physical toll of pregnancy while her brain was essentially in "trauma mode."
She wasn't eating. She was losing weight. Doctors eventually had to label her pregnancy as high-risk because the grief was literally preventing her from nourishing the baby.
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Why the name Spider?
On March 30, 2023, she gave birth to a son. She named him Spider Webb.
- The Origin: "Spider" was Spencer’s nickname on the field at Oregon.
- The Decision: Kelly admitted that naming him Spencer Jr. would have been too painful. She wanted to honor Spencer without feeling like she was trying to replace him.
- The Legacy: Today, Spider is frequently seen in Oregon Ducks gear, a living tribute to a father he never got to meet.
Navigating Grief in 2026
It’s been a few years now, and Kelly Kay has relocated back to Tennessee. She’s raised Spider as a single mother while maintaining a close relationship with the Oregon football community. But it hasn't been all sunshine and "moving on."
The internet is a weird place. For every person offering support, there were others questioning her motives or how she chose to grieve publicly. But Kelly has stayed remarkably consistent. She posts about Spencer on his birthday (April 7) and on the anniversary of his passing. She’s turned her platform into a space for talking about "trauma brain" and the reality of losing a partner so young.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common misconception that she just "used" the tragedy for followers. If you look at the timeline, that doesn't hold up. She lost the life she had planned. She had to buy a house, move across the country, and raise a child alone while mourning the person she thought she’d grow old with.
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She often says that Spider saved her life. He brought her out of a deep depression. Watching her journey, you see a woman who is essentially "parenting through the pain." It’s a specific kind of strength that doesn't get enough credit.
Actionable Insights for Supporting Someone in Grief
If you’re following Kelly’s story because you’ve also lost someone, or you know someone who has, here are a few things her journey teaches us about modern grief:
- Grief isn't linear. You can be "fine" one day and back in the trenches the next. That’s normal.
- Honor the person, but live your life. Kelly naming her son Spider was a way to keep the memory alive without being stuck in the past.
- Physical health matters. Trauma affects the body. If you aren't eating or sleeping after a loss, it's a medical issue, not just an emotional one.
- Community is everything. Whether it's the Oregon Ducks family or her own relatives in Tennessee, Kelly didn't do this alone.
Kelly Kay remains a polarizing figure to some, but to those who have actually followed her story, she’s a mother trying to keep a legacy alive. She’s ensured that everyone knows Spencer Webb wasn't just a football player—he was a guy who wanted to be a dad more than anything. And in a way, through Spider, he finally is.