Hoda Kotb’s Unfinished Chapter: Engagement Ring Fuels Speculation About Joel Schiffman Reunion

In the bright, upbeat world of Today, where Hoda Kotb’s infectious laughter has anchored mornings for over a decade, a quiet shadow lingers. At 61, the beloved host, known for her resilience after adopting daughters Haley, 8, and Hope, 6, is grappling with the echoes of her past, particularly her decade-long relationship with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman. Three years after their 2022 split, an exclusive source reveals to People on October 7, 2025, that Hoda is still struggling to move on, her heart tethered to what might have been. What has fans buzzing, though, is a subtle yet striking detail: recent sightings of Hoda wearing the engagement ring Schiffman gave her in 2019, spotted glinting on her left hand during a September 30 taping at Rockefeller Plaza. For a woman who’s kept her private life under wraps since the breakup, this small gesture has ignited speculation that their story might not be over—leaving viewers wondering if love’s final chapter is still unwritten.

The breakup, announced on Today in January 2022, was framed with Hoda’s signature grace. “Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and really meaningful conversations over the holidays, and we decided that we are better as friends and parents,” she said, her voice steady but eyes glistening. The financier and father of her girls, whom she met in 2013 at a charity event, had proposed with a stunning emerald-cut diamond during a Nile River cruise. Their bond deepened with Haley’s 2017 adoption and Hope’s 2019 arrival, but Hoda admitted in a September 23, 2025, Today interview that the relationship wasn’t “deepening” as hoped. “We’re dear friends,” she clarified, promoting her book Find Joy: Embracing Change in Every Season of Life. Yet, the source paints a more complex picture: “Hoda was thinking Joel was coming back and even expecting it for so long. But she’s saying she finally sees it’s for the best—though her heart isn’t fully convinced.”

Dating hasn’t eased the transition. Post-split, Hoda dipped into the dating pool, her charm drawing suitors intrigued by her warmth and wit. But the source reveals, “She’s had some dates, but that’s not panning out well at all.” Each new man, it seems, becomes a mirror to Schiffman’s steady presence—his quiet support during her 2007 breast cancer battle, their shared laughter raising the girls. “The new guys only remind her of what she gave up,” the insider adds. “She dragged it down, thinking the relationship needed to be something else, and that’s a hard fact to face.” Hoda’s philosophical streak shines through, though—she’s “still hoping to meet Mr. Right” while accepting life’s unpredictable turns with a shrug.

The engagement ring, however, tells a louder story. Spotted by eagle-eyed fans during a segment with Jenna Bush Hager, the 3-carat ring—custom-designed with a platinum band—sparked a frenzy on social media. #HodaRing trended with 1.2 million posts by October 6, with comments like “She’s holding onto hope!” and “Joel’s still her one.” Hoda’s silence on the matter only fuels the fire; she’s dodged questions about it, offering a coy smile when pressed by Savannah Guthrie off-air. Sources close to the couple, who remain amicable co-parents, hint at lingering affection. “They text daily about the girls, and there’s a tenderness there,” one said. Could it be nostalgia, a keepsake of their 2019 Egyptian proposal, or a signal of reconciliation? Hoda’s recent Today reflection—“Change is hard, but it’s where joy hides”—suggests she’s processing, not retreating.

For now, Hoda balances single motherhood with her 7 a.m. slot, her $18 million net worth a cushion but not a cure for heartache. Fans see the ring as a beacon—proof that love’s threads, even frayed, don’t sever easily. As autumn leaves fall outside 30 Rock, Hoda’s journey mirrors the season: a blend of letting go and holding on. Whether it’s a relic or a rekindling, one thing’s clear—her story with Joel isn’t fully closed, and America’s morning muse is writing its next page with every glint of that diamond.