“Sunday Night Football first week is incredible,” Kelly Stafford once gushed last month on her podcast about the NFL season opener. But this Sunday, as the Los Angeles Rams face off against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, her excitement will be tempered by distance. The wife of former Lions and current Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has made a surprising game-day decision that’s raising eyebrows across the league.

Kelly Stafford’s absence from the stands isn’t just about dodging the Detroit chill. It’s a tale of cherished memories, recent heartaches, and a mother’s fierce instinct to protect her cubs. “I am going to hop on a plane and head home so I can watch it with my daughters here,” Kelly revealed on her podcast, ‘The Morning After’. This choice, seemingly simple, carries the weight of 12 seasons’ worth of Detroit history.

Ford Field, once a second home to the Staffords, now stirs up a cocktail of emotions for Kelly. “The last memory I have wasn’t that great,” she confessed, referring to last season’s playoff game where the Lions knocked the Rams out of contention. But it’s not just about wins and losses. Kelly’s decision stems from a more personal place.

During that fateful game, Kelly and her daughters faced a harsh reception from some fans. “You always hear the worst ones,” she explained. “You don’t hear people that are like, ‘Thank you for all you do.’ You hear the ones who are like, ‘f— you, Kelly!'” This experience left a lasting impact, not just on Kelly, but on her children, too. The animosity could actually also be fans’ displeasure with her husband instead for his “betrayal”. 

Notably, the quarterback spent 12 seasons with the Lions before being traded to the Rams in March 2021 owing to spiraling performances. In his last three seasons with Detroit, the team had a dismal record of 6-10, 3-4-1 and 5-11. Ahead of the match against his former team, the player talked about the hate he receives—Detroit fans booing every time he makes an appearance! “I’m not a stranger to the situation and understanding that I’m the bad guy coming to town,” he had said.

The Stafford girls, when asked about returning to Ford Field, also gave a resounding “no.” Kelly elaborated, “There’s a lot that goes into it, but I think it’s the better decision for my mental health and for my daughters.” It’s a stark reminder that behind every NFL play, a family is feeling every hit and hearing every jeer.

Matthew Stafford’s wife’s playbook

Kelly Stafford’s game-day anxieties go beyond hostile fans. As she revealed to Yahoo News, watching Matthew play is a nerve-wracking experience. “It’s not the easiest watching this sport,” she admitted. “Especially when you have a loved one on the field.”

For Kelly, each sack is a moment of heart-stopping dread. While she’s learned to shrug off the occasional broken bone – “Okay, you broke something, whatever. We’ll figure it out” – it’s the potential for head injuries that keeps her up at night. “I worry about the head because it’s the one [injury] people push through and they shouldn’t,” she explained.

This fear isn’t unfounded. Remember the Kevin Everett injury against the Denver Broncos back in the 2007 season opener? An attempted tackle led to one of the most serious spinal cord injuries. The on-field medics even declared that there was very little hope that the former TE would ever walk again. While he did become healthy eventually, the injury turned out to be life-altering for the player.

Thus, it is not irrational for Kelly to fear for Matthew’s health, especially as he enters his 16th NFL season. “You take more hits the longer you play,” Kelly noted, her voice tinged with concern. Kelly shared a poignant moment from last season when one of her older daughters asked if Matthew had to play again after a particularly brutal game. “I think that really sat with him,” Kelly reflected, highlighting the growing unease within the family about the sport’s dangers.

Despite these challenges, Kelly remains Matthew’s staunchest supporter. She’s found a delicate balance between cheering him on and reminding him of life beyond the gridiron. “Just do your best to stay healthy and run as fast as you can,” she advises as the season kicks off.

As the Rams and Lions prepare for their Sunday night showdown, Kelly Stafford’s empty seat at Ford Field stands as a powerful testament. It’s a reminder that in the NFL, some of the bravest plays happen off the field, where families navigate a complex playbook of love, fear, and unwavering support.