Rams Fans Frown Upon Kelly Stafford’s Unnecessary Reaction to Aaron Donald’s Retirement

Samnur Reza | 16/03/2024
Rams Fans Frown Upon Kelly Stafford's Unnecessary Reaction to Aaron Donald's Retirement

LA Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald shook the NFL world this Friday after announcing to hang up the cleats. For both the Melonheads and any football enthusiast, it’s no secret how the star out of Pittsburgh has etched his name in the history books with no shortage of accolades — from ten Pro Bowl nods in his ten-year-long stint to winning the Defensive Player of the Year award three times — which only two other players have managed to achieve. It was a rough day for fans to bid the future Hall of Famer goodbye, but what no one expected was for Kelly Stafford to make a statement that no Rams fan was prepared to hear at this moment.

While reacting to a post about Aaron Donald’s shocking announcement, Rams QB Matthew Stafford‘s wife, Kelly, had nothing but nice words for the now-former DT. Or, at least, in the first part. Initially, she expressed that she now has to watch football without Aaron on the field, something she never thought about. She also noted that Aaron has ‘set the bar high’ for the upcoming generation and wished him a bright future.

However, in the latter part of her comment, Kelly wrote that she might convince her husband to join Aaron on the couch. The new generation of Melonheads, who saw Matthew Stafford lead the club to their second Super Bowl victory after 21 years, couldn’t believe what Kelly was saying. From “Rams not ready for this” to urging the Lions to take Kelly back, leaving Matthew in LA, it’s nothing short of chaos. Take a look:

Netizens were quick to mention that the Rams have recently signed Jimmy Garoppolo, who could very well take over the starting position if Matthew does decide to call it quits. But they also remarked that the journeyman will not be able to hold the fort like their Super Bowl-winning shot-caller.

Matthew Expresses Gratitude for His Retiring Teammate with a Heartfelt Note

Even though Kelly faced flak for her comment, the Rams QB, on the other hand, left fans in awe with a thoughtful comment. Aaron Donald took to his Instagram to share a montage video of his dominance on the gridiron, and two photos featuring heartfelt notes for the fans. He thanked St. Louis where he spent the first two years of his career as a Ram, and then Los Angeles, where the franchise has since moved. Additionally, he thanked the organization and his family, who stood by him through thick and thin.

His post has since attracted a lot of attention, but his now-former QB’s note stands out. Matthew said that he ‘loved’ being on the field with Aaron, and “more so when we were wearing the same jersey!” He further said, “The best to ever do it! Happy for you and Ready to see what you do next!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Aaron Donald (@aarondonald99)

It’s a sad day indeed for the Melonheads. The Rams are going into the 2024 season on the back of a very narrow loss in the Wild Card Round. And surprisingly, it was against Stafford’s former team, the Lions, who, after 32 years, managed to secure a victory in the postseason. Surely, the Fearsome Foursome will be able to make do without Aaron, and let Matthew hang up his cleats with in peace with a Super Bowl run. At the age of 36, he will likely stick around for a few more years, but we have seen shocking announcements as such every season.

Post Edited By: Samnur Reza
Aaron Donald Kelly Stafford Los Angeles Rams Matthew Stafford

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Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. Samnur now diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and the NCAA. He considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 1500 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over two years ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in Elden Ring (New Game +6).

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