Matthew Stafford’s return to Detroit for the NFC wild-card matchup wasn’t a warm homecoming, with Lions fans booing the Los Angeles Rams quarterback and even expressing disapproval towards his wife, Kelly, and their children.
Kelly Stafford addressed the fan response on her Instagram story, acknowledging the competitive nature of sports and the city’s desire to win. However, she expressed disappointment in fans booing her children.
While Kelly appreciated the intense atmosphere at Ford Field during Detroit’s 24-23 victory, she noted the mixed emotions she felt when fans cheered after Stafford appeared to be injured late in the third quarter.
Despite her resilience to the booing directed at her husband, she found it challenging when her children were affected emotionally, as according to her they were in tears over the heckling.
“I go, ‘Oh guys, they’re not booing you. They are not booing you. They’re booing mommy. They’re very passionate and excited about this game. They want their Lions to win, we are on the other team,'” she said. “‘They’re not booing you, they’re not booing your sisters, they’re booing some of the things that have gone on in the past and we just have to move, we have to move past it, and we have to focus on the good,'”
Kelly recounted a conversation with Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford and described the less-than-pleasant experience walking to the Rams side of the field. She found solace among the Rams’ family in attendance, recognizing the uniqueness of the situation. Kelly took the opportunity to explain to her children that the boos were not directed at them but rather at past events.
Despite the challenges faced during the game, Kelly expressed continued support for the Lions in the playoffs, urging them to bring home a Lombardi Trophy. However, she acknowledged the attention she has received since the Lions’ playoff win after a 32-year drought, suggesting that Detroit Lions fans might want to focus on the upcoming challenges rather than her statements.