Tag: Kelly Stafford

NFC West Watch: Did Matt Stafford’s wife suggest he wants a trade?

NFC West Watch: Did Matt Stafford’s wife suggest he wants a trade?

The Seattle Seahawks squandered a division lead not once but twice last season to the Los Angeles Rams. Instead of the Seahawks claiming their first NFC West title since 2020, a mediocre Rams team came out of nowhere and snatched it away. However, LA could potentially look drastically different in 2025 as they attempt to defend their division crown.

Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp already announced on his personal Twitter account that the team intends to trade him. Kupp is not thrilled by the decision, nor should he, but this is the unfortunate reality of the business side of professional football.

Apparently, Kupp is not the only member of the Rams team who is upset by the decision to move away from the MVP of Super Bowl LVI. Kelly Stafford, wife of quarterback Matthew Stafford, took to her podcast recently and had quite an interesting rant. Mrs. Stafford explained how her husband values winning and wants to be a winner. She is confused how trading away Kupp allows the Rams to continue to be a winner, especially since they were so close from reaching the NFC Championship game.

Mrs. Stafford’s comments seem to insinuate perhaps she and her husband would be open to moving on, should the Rams no longer present the best opportunity to win.

The Rams have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success with Matthew Stafford at the helm. They won the Super Bowl in his first year with the team, and made back-to-back playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024, as well as winning two NFC West titles. But I would not be surprised if LA would share a mutual interest in moving off Stafford as well.

Back in 2023, there were rumblings the Rams would “love to trade” Stafford. While the team eventually denied it adamantly, it is hard to take them fully at their word. Stafford has a cap hit of $49.6 million in 2025, and that balloons up to $53.6 million in 2026. Stafford’s dead cap for 2025 is also $49.6 so moving on from him may not financially make sense, but we’ve seen teams be willing to eat more and more dead money for only a season.

Stafford will turn 37 tomorrow, and constant injury concerns aren’t getting any better for the 15-year veteran.

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Kelly Stafford not attending Sunday night opener in Detroit

Kelly Stafford not attending Sunday night opener in Detroit after a negative reaction from fans on her last visit

Kelly Stafford, wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback, and former Detroit Lion, Matthew Stafford, shared on her podcast The Morning After will not be at Ford Field for Sunday night’s season opener, citing her and her daughters being on the receiving end of boos during the Wild Card playoff back in January between the two teams.

Via the New York Post:

“Physically, I am not [attending the game in Detroit],” Kelly said. “After our amazing, amazing live show [on Sept. 7 in Detroit], I’m going to hop on a plane and head home so I can watch it with my daughters here, so that’s the plan.”

Stafford also added her daughters did not want to attend the game Sunday in Detroit. Kelly Stafford complained about the negative reaction the family received on the last trip back to a Lions game in Detroit.

“I actually asked them if they wanted to go back,” Stafford said on her podcast. “And they said ‘no.’ So that is another reason we won’t be returning for the game.

“There’s a lot that goes into it,” she added. “But I just think it’s the better decision for my mental health and for my daughters.”

It’s unlikely to be another warm welcome back for Matthew Stafford when the Rams come to town Sunday night. This time, Stafford will be on his own.

Kelly Stafford thought it was sad that some fans wanted to ban Matthew Stafford jerseys at Rams-Lions game

No, a jersey ban isn’t happening.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford spent his first 12 NFL seasons with the Lions. And though he won a Super Bowl in his first season with Los Angeles, it’s obvious that he cares about Detroit and the Lions fan base.

So, one Lions fan page might have given Stafford some extra bulletin-board material ahead of Sunday’s return to Detroit in the NFC wild-card round. Stafford’s wife, Kelly, certainly took notice.

A Lions fan Instagram page, thedetroitline, mocked up an official-looking graphic to propose a ban of Stafford jerseys at Ford Field. It was a silly thing to even suggest and clearly didn’t come from the Lions in any capacity. But Kelly appeared to think it was an actual ban or movement and expressed her disappointment in the comments.

She wrote:

Well this is sad because it’s the completely opposite of how we feel about this city, but Matthew has always been the bigger person and will continue to be that. Praying for an incredible game with zero injuries.

The account responded, trying to walk back on the idea and saying that the city still loves Stafford — just not for Sunday’s game. Plus, nobody should expect Lions fans to be rooting for Stafford in a game he’s playing against the Lions.

Other NFL fans seemed surprised that anyone took the “jersey ban” idea seriously to begin with.

Matthew Stafford discusses reaction to photographer’s fall at Rams parade

Matthew Stafford personally texted the photographer and apologized for his reaction

It was a strange moment at last week’s Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl parade.

Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was accompanied by his wife and former UGA cheerleader Kelly Stafford, went viral for his reaction to photographer Kelly Smiley falling off the stage right in front of the two. The Rams superstar reacted by quickly turning away, while his wife, however, instantly went to check to see if Smiley was all right.

Stafford, who threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns in the Super Bowl win over the Bengals, expressed regret over his reaction while making an appearance Tuesday on wife Kelly’s podcast, “The Morning After.”

“We can’t not talk about what happened,” Kelly started. “There was a photographer, who stepped off the back of the stage, had asked if we wanted a picture and I was like, ‘Yes,’ because looking back at my camera roll I have literally zero of Matthew and I.

When she offered, she stepped back and fell. And it was an awful, awful moment. Matthew looked at me and said, ‘Check her please,’ and turned around.”

Kelly added that after the fall she went “straight to” Smiley, which can be seen in the above video, and “could see that she was OK.”

“We followed up with her, the moment we got in the car, Matthew actually looked at me and said, ‘Hey, will you contact the Rams, ask how she’s doing?’ Did that, they’re like, ‘We think she’s going to be OK.’ We sent her flowers. Next day we wake up, not OK,” Kelly explained.

Smiley would later reveal on social media that she had fractured her spine as a result of the fall. Following the incident, Kelly said that her husband “actually texted her himself.”

Kelly and Matthew shifted gears to talk about the quarterback’s instant reaction to seeing Smiley’s fall. Matthew noted that he wishes he “had a better reaction in the moment.”

“I do know that the reaction that the world saw in that split second, I do know that’s not what you wish would have been your reaction,” Kelly said.

Stafford then replied, “Yeah, I mean, that obviously happened really quickly and suddenly and unexpectedly, and wish I had a better reaction in the moment.”

The former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick added that he apologized to Smiley over text about the way he reacted.

“One of those things you try to train your reactions to be a little bit better next time,” he said.

The Staffords and the Rams organization will be covering Smiley’s medical expenses, telling People in a statement: “As we told Kelly, we will be covering all her hospital bills and replacing her cameras. We wish her a speedy recovery.”

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Kelly, Matthew Stafford to cover medical expenses for photographer who fell at parade

The Staffords will pay the medical bills and camera costs for the photographer who fell at the Rams’ parade

A day later, the Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife Kelly announced Thursday they will cover the medical expenses for Kelly Smiley.

Smiley fell off the stage during the Rams’ parade on Wednesday in Los Angeles and fractured her spine.

The incident was viewed millions of times as Matthew Stafford walked away, looking as if he didn’t care while Kelly Stafford gasped.

A GoFundme had been set up for Kelly Smiley, a professional sports photographer and $43,000 had been raised. What happens to those funds has not been revealed.

El momento emotivo entre Matthew y Kelly Stafford tras la victoria de los Rams

Matthew Stafford pasó 12 años tratando de llegar al Super Bowl con Detroit y se quedó corto, pero en su primera temporada con Los Angeles Rams, lo logró. Y Kelly Stafford, quien ha estado con él desde que estaban en Georgia, pudo celebrar con él en …

Matthew Stafford pasó 12 años tratando de llegar al Super Bowl con Detroit y se quedó corto, pero en su primera temporada con Los Angeles Rams, lo logró.

Y Kelly Stafford, quien ha estado con él desde que estaban en Georgia, pudo celebrar con él en el campo después de que el QB derrotó a los San Francisco 49ers en el partido por el título de la NFC para amarrar su lugar en el Super Bowl 56, que se jugará en casa, en Los Angeles.

Aquí les dejamos el momento capturado en el campo del SoFi Stadium, cuando empezó la celebración tras la increíble victoria:

Traducción: Un gran momento entre Matthew Stafford y su esposa.

 

¡Qué momento!

También vimos este otro momento:

Traducción: ¡La amo! Kelly Stafford es mi guía espiritual.

 

Artículo traducido por Ana Lucía Toledo

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Matthew and Kelly Stafford shared an emotional moment after the Rams’ win

Super Bowl bound!

Matthew Stafford spent 12 years trying to get to a Super Bowl in Detroit and falling short.

In his first season with the Los Angeles Rams, he did it.

And Kelly Stafford, who has been with him while they were at Georgia, got to celebrate with him on the field after the QB took down the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in the NFC title game to clinch a spot in Super Bowl 56, which will be played at home in Los Angeles.

Here’s the moment that was captured on the SoFi Stadium field as the celebration began after the huge victory:

Matthew and Kelly Stafford donate funds for Detroit based educational center as ‘final thank you’

Soon to be former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife Kelly are donating $1 million to a Detroit based educational center as a “final thank you” before their leave for the Los Angeles Rams.

Soon to be former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife Kelly are teaming up with Free Press’ Mitch Album in developing a Detroit based educational center as a “final thank you” before their leave for Los Angeles.

The Stafford’s have made a routine of donating their time and money over the years. Each year they surprise different families with visits and gifts at Christmas time, they fundraised/donated to the Acoustic Neuroma Association after Kelly’s surgery for her brain tumor, they previously donated $1 million towards a local community center, last March they donated $100,000 to Detroit communities to fight the COVID-19 crisis, and most recently they donated $1.5 million to the University of Georgia, with $350,000 earmarked for their new social justice initiative.

Per a report from the Free Press, the Stafford’s have pledged $1 million for this project and Kelly made the announcement via her social media account.

“Our final thank you,” Kelly wrote. “There are not enough words to truly express how grateful we are to have lived here for the past 12 years. We came here for football, but we are leaving with a sense of home and endearment. Endearment not only for this city and the Lions organization, but a love for the people who make up this community. Detroit has supported our family not only by showing up on Sundays, but also through our most difficult times. You took us in as your own and made Detroit feel like home and that is what it became, our home.

“It has been our goal to always give back to the city. Detroit and its people have blessed us in so many ways, we only hope you have felt our gratitude through our joy of giving back to the city. As we sat down and tried to figure out how to thank you one last time, we felt like words were not sufficient. And so, we have teamed up with Mitch Albom to create an education center that will be attached to the SAY PLAY Center where Stafford Field is also located. The new building will enable the Center to increase its student population who benefit from the center’s academic, athletic and arts programs, and service adults with job training programs, GED classes, and community events. This is the legacy we want to leave behind. We would love for you to be a part of it with us..to be a part of this legacy of making a positive impact in so many Detroiters’ lives. If you would like to get involved, I have placed a link in my bio and in my story so that you will be able to do so. Think of the difference we could make together for the thousands of people in city of Detroit.

“You will always remember Matthew Stafford as a Detroit Lions quarterback, but our hope is that you will also remember our family for our love of the Detroit community and its people.

“Thank you Detroit, for everything.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLKzqtkhUPg/

Kelly Stafford offers a touching farewell to Detroit

Kelly Stafford is the social media voice for the family

Because Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford famously doesn’t do social media, Detroit has gotten to know his wife, Kelly, better than most player spouses. Kelly Stafford is the visual mouthpiece of the family with her Instagram account that shows what it’s like away from the field for No. 9 and his family of girls.

Kelly Stafford shared a touching, honest farewell to Detroit. Now that the wheels are in motion with the Lions set to trade her husband to another team, Stafford posted a picture of her and Matthew smiling outside of Ford Field with a grateful, heartfelt (that’s her only mode) caption for Detroit and Lions fans,

Thank you. This place, our home, the people… it’s hard to find the words to explain what this place means to me. Random tears come very often when I think about not being here. This place supported me during the toughest time of my life and during the happiest times and I want to thank y’all in the right way.
Whenever I figure out what the future holds, you’ll be hearing from me again with a thank you that hopefully shows how much gratitude and love I have for this place.. but until then we are going to enjoy our time left in Michigan to the fullest because there really is no other place like it. #detroitvseverybody #staffordstrong

Here’s what Kelly Stafford doesn’t understand about coronavirus relief

Her Instagram rant is the combination of breathtaking ignorance born out of privilege.

Kelly Stafford, wife of Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford, went on an Instagram rant Thursday morning, calling Michigan a “dictatorship” in response to new coronavirus regulations put in place by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

In her rant, for which she later apologized, Stafford lamented the closing of “small businesses” but, as she kept talking, showed breathtaking levels of ignorance and a basic failure to understand the economics of the pandemic.

“I’m so over living in a dictatorship that we call Michigan. I understand there’s a pandemic, and I understand it’s very scary. I’m scared of it, too. If you are at risk, do not leave your house until there’s a vaccine,” Stafford said in a string of videos. “Shutting down all these small businesses, things that people have worked their life for, shutting them down again is not the answer, because they will not make it, so once we are able to leave our house, once this dictatorship decides to let us have some freedom, there will be nothing left. I’m just over it.”

Stafford is rightfully getting dragged for her baseless claim that Michigan is turning into a “dictatorship,” especially given the very serious threats to Gov. Whitmer’s safety.  Stafford’s statements aren’t just factually incorrect, they’re irresponsible and add to an already exacerbated climate that views any attempt to control the pandemic, whether by mask wearing or business closures, as an attack on personal freedom.

The restrictions that Stafford was railing against come as Michigan has added 5,772 coronavirus cases and reported 62 deaths. According to the CDC, Michigan has the sixth highest number of cases by state in the US, and ranks fifth in deaths. Just this week, Michigan added 25,993 cases and recorded 196 deaths.

And still, the point that seems to be flying over Stafford’s head is that small businesses wouldn’t need to stay open if the federal government would just pass a relief bill. The issue here isn’t closing up shops, it’s that the Senate failed to pass much needed assistance to the American people that would allow to them to keep their livelihoods and stay home at the same time. If that happened we could save lives and could all get back to normal just a little bit quicker. Members of the Senate actually went on Thanksgiving vacation on Wednesday, failing to pass any kind of emergency relief bill.

If Stafford is so concerned about small businesses, she needs to pay actual attention to the politics of the situation, rather than her own inconvenience,  and see what’s really keeping hard working people in a chokehold. It is not the state shutting down shops and restaurants and schools, but Republican leadership caring more about partisan politics than people.

Of course, Stafford is entirely too comfortably ensconced in her wealth and privilege to have to deal with any of the devastating effects of the pandemic.  Therefore, she’s free to rail against what she views as injustice on the part of others, without having to acknowledge the full breadth of suffering, like the thousands of health care workers, the elderly and vulnerable, and those who have become housing and food insecure.  Stafford’s little speech is just a prime example of withering and willful ignorance that comes with a certain kind of privilege. Her rant is not about wanting to help small business, no matter how much back tracking on Instagram she does, but about selfishness masquerading as concern for the little guy.