The Truth About Kathryn Tappen's Ex-Husband, Jay Leach
Kathryn Tappen is set to make her broadcast debut at the 2022 Super Bowl on February 13. The 40-year-old has been working at NBC since 2014, per the New York Post, but has primarily covered NHL games. However, in recent years, Tappen has hosted Peacock's "Sunday Night Football," and will be taking on the role of field reporter — a first for her — on Super Bowl Sunday. According to New Jersey Local News, Tappen will be on the sidelines covering the Cincinnati Bengals during the game, alongside legendary broadcaster Al Michaels, who does the play-by-plays, analyst Cris Collinsworth, field reporter Michele Tafoya, who will be covering the Los Angeles Rams, and rules analyst Terry McAulay.
Considering that the sideline reporter will have to update audiences on any potential injuries to players or replacements, all eyes will be on Tappen to see if she can keep tabs on everything. One person, however, who may not tune in to her coverage is her ex-husband Jay Leach.
Kathryn Tappen met Jay Leach on the job
Kathryn Tappen may be a familiar face to sports fans, but little is known about her personal life — other than she was once married to hockey player Jay Leach. According to The New York Times, Tappen met Leach in 2005 when she worked for WJAR-TV, an NBC affiliate network, in Providence, Rhode Island. At the time, Leach was playing for the Bruins' minor league team during the NHL lockout. "We both had off on Mondays and were able to hang out a lot, and I soon realized that he has a great, light-hearted personality," Tappen told The Times. "We became friends initially, and it later evolved into what it is."
The two dated for four years before marrying in July 2009. During their relationship, Tappen often flew to watch her then-husband play on her off days. "We've always found a way to make it work," Tappen told Telegram & Gazette in 2011. "We both love what we do and we are very passionate about what we do and we know that the window of opportunity is not there forever."
Unfortunately, they could not make their marriage work in the end and divorced in 2014, according to The Sun. The couple also shares three children together. However, there didn't seem to be any animosity between the exes as Tappen tweeted her congratulations when Leach was announced as an assistant coach for the Seattle Krakens in July 2021. That said, Tappen's career is on the rise too.
Kathryn Tappen is rumored to take over a coveted role on NBC Sports
Besides seeing who will win on Super Bowl Sunday, viewers will also be seeing the changing of the guards as Tappen is rumored to be the frontrunner to replace Michele Tafoya on the sidelines on NBC's "Saturday Night Football." NBC Sports announced on February 11 that Tafoya's last broadcast with the network is on Super Bowl Sunday, having worked more than 300 games as a sideline reporter. Tafoya said in her statement that she has had the "good fortune of collaborating with a team that is amongst the best at what they do." She added that the "support I've received in this position has been unparalleled," and thanked her "SNF" team for all their hard work over the years.
NBC hasn't yet announced a replacement for Tafoya, but the New York Post reports that Tappen — who served as a replacement for Tafoya while she was absent late last year — is seen as a heavy favorite for the job.
In the meantime though, Tappen remains focused on the Super Bowl, telling New Jersey Local News she's taking her work "one day at a time."