Former USC quarterback Matt Leinart recently shared details about a past date with pop star Rihanna, attributing its failure to a lack of confidence and an unfortunate blister on his lip. Leinart, who now hosts "Throwbacks," recounted the experience on "The Dan Patrick Show," admitting that he wasn't at his best during the encounter.
"It was a young Matt, just not super confident," Leinart told Patrick. "You would’ve thought I would’ve had a lot of confidence, but I didn’t."
He explained that the blister, which appeared on his lip the day of the date, significantly impacted his self-esteem. Leinart and Rihanna, who have remained friends with a mutual acquaintance who is also Rihanna's assistant, had a brief dating period years ago. Leinart first revealed the story on his podcast in July 2025.
Leinart, who won two national championships and a Heisman Trophy during his college career, admitted that despite his athletic success, he struggled with confidence in his younger days. He is now married to former actress and attorney Josie Loren, with whom he has four children. Rihanna is in a relationship with rapper A$AP Rocky, and the couple has three children.