Matthew Stafford’s expressed excitement for his return to Detroit for the wild card game on January 14, but some Lions fans are wary of showing too much affection for their former quarterback.
As SI.com’s John Maakaron reported, some supporters have started a campaign to ban Stafford shirts from Sunday’s game against Stafford’s Los Angeles Rams. Kelly Stafford, Matthew’s wife, expressed unhappiness with the campaign this week.
Stafford departed the Lions on good terms in 2021, posting an emotional farewell video following his trade to the Rams in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff and a package of draft picks. However, as Maakaron pointed out, some Lions fans do not want to see other fans wearing vintage Detroit Stafford jerseys to Sunday’s game.
Kelly Stafford expressed her unhappiness with the campaign, stating that it was not in the spirit of goodwill that she and her husband continue to share with the community and team that chose him first overall in 2009.
“Well, this is sad, because it is the polar opposite of how we feel about this city,” Stafford told SI.com. “However, Matthew has always been the bigger guy and will continue to be so. “Praying for an incredible game with no injuries.”
This weekend’s wild card game will be the Lions’ first home playoff game in three decades, following the team’s first NFC North crown and division win since 1993. Stafford stated this week that he is delighted to participate in the game.
“The opportunity happens to be in Detroit, which is fun for me on a personal level,” Stafford told ESPN. “I know it will be rocking there. It’s been probably 30 years or so since there was a playoff game there. So it’ll be a fantastic environment. It will be a difficult assignment for us, but we are enthusiastic.”
Stafford said that he hopes to have the opportunity to express his gratitude to the franchise and the people he met throughout his 12-year tenure in Detroit.
