If you follow college football, you’ve probably heard Bobby Petrino’s name more than a few times—on the field for his offensive genius, and off the field for his very public scandal years ago. In September 2025, he was thrust back into the headlines when he took over as Arkansas’ interim head coach after Sam Pittman was fired, returning to the same program where his 2012 motorcycle-and-affair saga once blew up his career.
With all that renewed attention comes a familiar question:
Is Bobby Petrino married, and does he have a girlfriend now?
Let’s break it down clearly.
Is Bobby Petrino Dating Anyone?
No—there’s no girlfriend in the picture.
Bobby Petrino is still married to his wife, Becky, and there are no credible reports of any current romantic relationship outside that marriage. Whenever people start asking about a “Bobby Petrino girlfriend,” it almost always traces back to Jessica Dorrell and the 2012 affair that cost him his Arkansas job the first time.
More than a decade later, there’s nothing to suggest a repeat situation. Publicly, his personal life appears to revolve around his marriage, kids, and grandkids.
Is Bobby Petrino Still Married to Becky?
Yes. Bobby Petrino remains married to Becky Petrino.
The two married in 1985 and have built a large family together:
four children—Kelsey, Katie, Nick, and Bobby Jr.—and eight grandchildren.
Their relationship very clearly went through a major strain during the 2012 scandal, but they did not divorce. There’s no indication in 2025 of a separation or split. When Petrino is mentioned in the context of family, it’s always alongside Becky and their children, not a new partner.
Bobby Petrino’s Net Worth in 2025
Bobby Petrino’s net worth in 2025 is generally estimated in the multi-million range, with figures commonly landing between about $5 million and $18 million, depending on how different sources count buyouts, guaranteed money, and payouts from past deals.
What’s clear is that he’s earned a lot through long, well-paid college contracts and even a short-lived NFL stint.
Highlights from his earnings history include:
- His current Arkansas deal, which brought him back as offensive coordinator with a $1.5 million salary in 2024, rising to $1.6 million in 2025, plus incentives and a one-year extension. With his promotion to interim head coach in late 2025, his upside for bonuses and future deals only increases.
- His Louisville contract in 2006, reported as $25.6 million over 10 years, averaging about $2.56 million per year.
- His first run at Arkansas (2008–2011), where he made roughly $3.6 million annually, totaling around $10 million.
- His NFL deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007, a 3-year, $24 million contract that still netted him millions even though he left after 13 games.
- Later college roles, such as Western Kentucky (2013) and Missouri State (2020–2022), which paid in the $400,000–$800,000 per year range.
- Additional income from assistant stints at Texas A&M and UNLV, thought to total around $1–2 million, plus buyout money like $1.2 million from Louisville to Western Kentucky and $175,000 from UNLV.
Add in nine bowl appearances, multiple 10-win seasons, and six AP top-25 finishes, and it’s easy to see how he’s stayed financially secure even when controversy followed him. A strong 2025 run at Arkansas could set him up for yet another lucrative head coaching deal.
Who Is Bobby Petrino, Beyond the Headlines?
Bobby Petrino was born March 10, 1961, in Lewistown, Montana, and stands about 5’11”. He’s known in the football world as an offensive mastermind with a knack for turning programs around—and a reputation that’s both impressive and complicated.
He’s coached at places like Louisville, Western Kentucky, Missouri State, and briefly in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, but Arkansas is where his story has been the loudest.
From 2008 to 2011, he led the Razorbacks to a 34–17 record, including two 11-win seasons and high national rankings. In his 2023 return as offensive coordinator, Arkansas’ offense exploded for over 550 yards and 43.5 points per game, setting the stage for his 2025 promotion to interim head coach.
On paper, he’s one of the more accomplished offensive coaches of his era. Off the paper is where things got messy.
The Jessica Dorrell Affair: Why People Still Talk About It
The reason fans still bring up Bobby Petrino’s “girlfriend” is the 2012 Jessica Dorrell scandal.
On April 1, 2012, Petrino was involved in a motorcycle crash in Arkansas. At first, he claimed he’d been riding alone—but it soon came out that Jessica Dorrell, a 25-year-old former Razorback volleyball player and athletic department employee, had been with him.
Soon after, Petrino admitted to an “inappropriate relationship” with Dorrell. He had recently helped hire her as a student-athlete development coordinator and also acknowledged giving her $20,000 in cash. The incident raised serious ethical and professional concerns.
The result:
On April 10, 2012, Arkansas fired Petrino—not just for the affair itself, but for misleading university officials about the crash and his relationship with Dorrell. The story became national news and cemented the “motorcycle crash affair” as part of college football lore.
Who Was Jessica Dorrell and Where Is She Now?
Jessica Dorrell, now known as Jessica Morgan, was at the center of the scandal but has since stepped away from the public eye.
She was:
- a former Arkansas volleyball player
- a graduate of the university
- an employee in the athletic department at the time of the affair
She was engaged to Josh Morgan when the story broke. After the scandal, she resigned from her position, married, and faded from public view. As of 2025, there’s no widely available, updated information about her personal life—and importantly, no indication that she has any ongoing connection to Bobby Petrino.
The affair was a specific episode more than a decade ago. It ended his first Arkansas tenure, but it did not continue beyond that period.
Bobby and Becky Petrino: Their Relationship Today
Through all of this, Becky Petrino has remained by Bobby’s side.
They’ve been married since 1985, raised four children, and now enjoy eight grandchildren. While the 2012 scandal almost certainly tested their marriage, the public record shows they stayed together and moved forward.
Becky keeps a very low profile, rarely speaking publicly about the scandal or her husband’s coaching journey. From the outside, their life seems focused on family and football rather than revisiting old wounds.
Where Is Bobby Petrino Living and Working Now?
As of 2025, Bobby Petrino is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, working as the interim head coach of the Razorbacks. His day-to-day life revolves around:
- game planning
- developing players
- steering Arkansas through a pivotal season after Sam Pittman’s departure
His return has sparked both optimism and debate—some fans focus on his ability to win, others on his past. Either way, he’s back in the same state where his biggest success and biggest scandal collided.
Why the Girlfriend Rumors Won’t Go Away
Even though there’s no current girlfriend, rumors persist because the 2012 affair was such a huge story. Whenever Petrino resurfaces in a prominent job—especially back at Arkansas—social media dusts off the motorcycle memes and “old flame” jokes.
There are no known ties to anyone named Kataria or any new woman in his life; those whispers don’t line up with any factual reporting. The only confirmed relationship in his personal life today is the one he’s had for decades: his marriage to Becky.
More Than a Scandal: Petrino’s Football Legacy
Love him or hate him, Bobby Petrino’s coaching impact is significant. He’s known for:
- high-scoring offenses
- developing quarterbacks (including stars like Lamar Jackson at Louisville)
- turning average programs into contenders
His reputation will probably always be a mix of brilliance and controversy. The 2012 scandal didn’t erase his football mind—but it did permanently color how people talk about him.
Conclusion: Married, Not Dating—and Focused on Football
To sum it up clearly:
- Bobby Petrino is married to Becky Petrino.
- He does not have a girlfriend in 2025.
- The relationship with Jessica Dorrell ended over a decade ago and has not resurfaced.
- His personal life today appears settled: family, grandkids, and football.
As he tries to guide Arkansas through another critical chapter, the past will always be part of the conversation—but the present is about his team, his playbook, and his chance at redemption on the field.
Whatever you think of Bobby Petrino, the facts on his relationship status are simple: one wife, zero girlfriends, and a whole lot of eyes on what he does next.