Matthew Stafford has arrived in Los Angeles as the Rams’ new quarterback after the team’s trade with the Lions was made official. The Rams welcomed him to L.A. on Thursday with a string of social media posts, but they weren’t the only ones to do so.
The Dodgers shared a video of Clayton Kershaw’s message to Stafford, who happens to be his childhood friend. Kershaw held up a Stafford jersey and said he’s excited to watch him with the Rams now that they’re both in L.A., reuniting the two Dallas kids.
Reunion in LA.
A message from Matthew's childhood friend @ClaytonKersh22. pic.twitter.com/mkiulhnnSA
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 18, 2021
Kershaw and Stafford grew up together in Texas, playing various sports throughout high school. They were football teammates, both played baseball and both were outstanding athletes. Kershaw even played center on the football team with Stafford at quarterback, though he chose a different path on the diamond.
“I loved playing football and I loved hanging out with the guys, but offensive line wasn’t my favorite thing in the world,” Kershaw told Gary Klein of the LA Times. “My skill set didn’t really suit for anything else, so I went to baseball.”
Now together in Los Angeles, Kershaw and Stafford can support and root for each other in the same city rather than doing so from across the country. Kershaw told Klein that Stafford is “super excited to get over there, and said it’s exactly what he wanted.”
“So, I know he’s really fired up about getting started.”
Kershaw has had a tremendous career with the Dodgers, winning three Cy Young awards, earning eight All-Star selections, winning a World Series and leading MLB in ERA five times.
Stafford has had his own success on the field, too, but it’s likely that the best is still to come. With the Rams, he has a legitimate shot to win a Super Bowl and take his team deep into the playoffs after coming up short three times before with the Lions.
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