With their father making an emotional return to the Motor City for Sunday’s playoff game against his former team, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s children were seen sporting ‘Detroit Born LA Raised’ jackets as they entered the stadium with their mother, Kelly.
The twin Stafford girls Sawyer and Chandler were introduced by their mother to Lions team owner, Martha Firestone Ford, who got an early glimpse at the jackets adorned with the Dodgers’ ‘LA’ logo.
Stafford had spent 12 years in Detroit after the Lions selected him with the No. 1 overall pick back in the 2009 NFL Draft, before eventually trading him to the LA Rams.
In fact, Stafford was traded for current Lions starting QB Jared Goff, which added a level of intrigue to the playoff contest.
Stafford also received a plea from Detroit native and legendary rapper Eminem who asked the QB for a ‘favor’ and if he could ‘let us have this one.’
Kelly Stafford is pictured at Ford Field with her twin daugthers, Sawyer and Chandler
Matthew Stafford’s children wore jackets that said ‘Detroit born LA raised’ on the back
Stafford and the Rams were taking on the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Sunday
All though Stafford is still loved in Detroit from his time with the Lions, the two-time Pro Bowler received the exact type of hostile welcome an opposing team would expect before entering a playoff game.
Not only was Stafford greeted with a stadium full of boos as he ran out onto the field for the final time during pregame activities, but he and the Rams offense were booed aggressively upon taking the field for their first drive of the game.
Leading up to the game Stafford told the Rams official website he wasn’t necessarily expecting a positive reception upon returning to his former stomping grounds.
‘I’m not expecting anything, to be honest with you,’ Stafford said. ‘… I think the biggest thing for me is just go experience whatever that experience is going to be. I understand what the people of Detroit and what the city of Detroit meant to me and my time and my career, what they meant to my family, I hope they feel that back.’
‘But at the same time, I’m not a stranger to the situation in understanding that I’m the bad guy coming to town,’ he added.
Stafford’s wife Kelly also had some words ahead of her husband’s return to Detroit after commenting on an alleged jersey ban during the leadup to the game. The supposed ban was created by fans and had nothing to do with the team.
‘Please don’t wear a Lions-Stafford jersey to the game,’ a post on Instagram read. ‘This is not a time to be cute or funny. This is about business and putting the final nail in the SOL coffin. … It ain’t personal. Just business!’
Kelly responded to the post in the comments by saying: ‘Well this is sad because it’s the complete opposite of how we feel about this city, but Matthew has always been the bigger person and will continue to be that,’ she wrote. ‘Praying for an incredible game with zero injuries.’
Some fans were seen wearing jerseys with Stafford’s name blacked out after a ‘jersey ban’
Stafford spent the first 12 seasons of his NFL career playing quarterback for the Detroit Lions
She became one of the few well-known wives around the NFL after she her battle with a brain tumor in 2019 was made public.
The mother of three had the benign tumor removed in a 30-hour surgery before enduring a grueling recovery period plagued by issues with her balance.
Kelly and Matthew first met at the University of Georgia where he was the star quarterback and she was a cheerleader.
Stafford was selected by the Lions with the first-overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
The couple wed in 2015 and now share twins Sawyer and Chandler as well as daughter Hunter.