Matthew Stafford's Wife Clarifies Comments About Detroit Lions Fans Booing Her Daughters: 'Teaching Moment'

Stafford played 12 years in Detroit before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams

● Matthew Stafford played for the Detroit Lions for 12 years before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
● Matthew's wife, Kelly Stafford, opened up about the atmosphere her family experienced returning to Detroit on the opposing team.
● Kelly reflected more on the situation on her podcast, The Morning After.

Matthew Stafford's family didn't get a warm welcome as the visiting team at Detroit's Ford Field.

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback, 35, was expecting to be booed by fans coming in as the opposing quarterback in Sunday's wildcard game. What surprised Stafford's wife, Kelly, was that fans' ire also spread to her in moments when she was with her four children.

Speaking out after the game in an Instagram Story, Kelly wrote, "It's sports. The city wants to win. Everything is fair game ... except the fans who booed my children."

"Other than that, I loved the atmosphere and the booing just gave my husband more fire. The more you love, the more you hate," she continued. "I consider it all love going both ways. And now that we are out ... I hope the lions bring home a Lombardi to the city because that feeling is like no other. Go get it."

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Related: Matthew Stafford Poses with Daughters on Sideline Ahead of NFL Star's Emotional Game: 'Detroit Born, LA Raised'

Kelly opened up more about her experience navigating the stadium with daughters Tyler, 3½, Hunter, 5½, and twins Sawyer and Chandler, 6½, on her podcast, The Morning After.

"Here's my thing. Sports is sports. I think everyone thought that we'd be upset at what occurred. Listen, did I think that we were going to come in there and Matthew was going to get a standing ovation? No."

"You weren't booing the other team. You were specifically booing my husband when he came on the field, and that's okay. I'm okay with that, but I don't want excuses being made," she said.

"I had to explain to two of my daughters. Hunter started crying on the field because — and it's not everybody, but the fans that ... are the loudest. But we're not playing the game," the mom of four leveled.

"My girls and I are not playing the game. I know my girls are not getting booed. I am. But when I have my girls with me, there's something to be said about, 'Maybe not.'"

"It is what it is. I took it as a teaching moment for my children. Hunter was in tears. Sawyer is like — she's just smart guys," she said, explaining why the crowd was booing her and that "we're going to move on."

"There's also fans that are cheering for us and saying thank you but we're not hearing that over the louder ones. And Sawyer looked at me and she goes, 'But we're not playing the sport.'"

She validated her daughter's statement and explained to them again that it was about her and Matthew and not them, and that they "have to move on and look at the positive."

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