The Detroit Lions will host a playoff game for the first time since 1994 when they face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, and there’s one throwback jersey that some fans are hoping not to see in the stands.
One Detroit fan social media account, @TheDetroitLine, urged fans in a pair of posts on Monday not to wear Matthew Stafford jerseys to Sunday’s game. The Instagram post has more than 4,000 likes as of this writing, while the same post on X has a mere 12 likes, so this is hardly a widespread effort. Still, the post did catch the attention of Stafford’s wife, Kelly, who called it “sad.”
Kelly Stafford's response to the "jersey ban" pic.twitter.com/iDjXo8NVTQ
— Zac (Indianapolis Rams) (@ZacMaier) January 9, 2024
“Well this is sad because it’s the completely [sic] opposite of how we feel about this city,” Kelly wrote in an Instagram comment, “but Matthew has always been the bigger person and will continue to be that. Praying for an incredible game with no injuries.”
Stafford played the first 12 years of his career with the Lions, leading the team to the playoffs three times. He was traded to Los Angeles before the 2021 season in a move that has worked out for both sides. Stafford won a Super Bowl with the Rams and Jared Goff has reinvigorated his career in Detroit. Stafford said this week that he’s excited to return to Detroit for the first time as a visitor.
“It will be fun to see some of the people that I haven’t seen in a while, that I know are still around the building,” Stafford said, according to ESPN. “And obviously it’ll be a different scenario and won’t be wearing their colors. But still, appreciate so many of the people there that gave me my start in this league and took care of me for 12 years, too.”
