Kelly Stafford Feels Joe Burrow is in the Same Boat Matthew Stafford Was in With the Detroit Lions

Sneha Singh | 25/11/2024
Joe Burrow, Kelly and Matthew Stafford

While Joe Burrow ranks second among current NFL quarterbacks, his good form isn’t leading to success for the Cincinnati Bengals. With a 4-7 record, their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread at the moment. Matthew Stafford’s wife, Kelly Stafford, is all too familiar with the situation, having seen her husband endure a similar predicament during his time with the Detroit Lions.

On the latest episode of her podcast, Morning After, Kelly spoke about how the Bengals’ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Week 11 made her feel bad for Burrow.

“I am a little heartbroken for Joe Burrow,” said Kelly. “To be honest, it is reminding me of when Matthew played on the Lions for a bit.”

Kelly felt Burrow has the skillset of an elite quarterback but will likely face backlash.

“Like you can tell how good and talented he is, it’s just the team is not winning, and that is frustrating.”

She shared that she had even texted her husband about it. “So I texted Matthew and I was ‘I kind of feel like I feel for him. Because I felt for you in those times’.”

Kelly’s words resonated with many fans, who joined to empathize with the quarterback.

An X user compared Burrow’s situation with that of Justin Herbert of the Chargers.

However, some NFL fans weren’t convinced by Kelly’s comparison. They believe that Burrow is in a different league altogether.

Kelly has been open about Stafford’s time with the Lions and how the negativity surrounding his move to the Los Angeles Rams affected the family.

The quarterback played 12 seasons in Detroit, and had managed to lead the team to the playoffs thrice with no postseason wins. However, after being traded to the Rams in 2021, he went on to lift the Lombardi Trophy in his debut season.

Kelly recounted how, during the Rams’ first matchup against Detroit on the road, the home fans booed not only Stafford but also Kelly and their daughters. While she wasn’t that surprised at her husband getting the fans’ wrath, it was certainly shocking when she and the kids became the target.

“My girls and I are not playing the game,” said Kelly on her podcast. “I know that my girls are not getting booed. I am, and I can handle it. But when I have my girls next to me, there’s something to be said of like, maybe not?”

Matthew Stafford has proved his mettle ever since his switch to Los Angeles, even earning “the throw of the year” tag in this season’s game against, of all teams, Detroit.

Burrow, meanwhile, has become a legitimate contender for the MVP race this year. But he needs to convert his QB performance into wins and secure a playoff berth to silence the critics.

Post Edited By: Leslie Xavier
Joe Burrow Kelly Stafford Matthew Stafford

About the author

Sneha SIngh

Sneha Singh

Sneha Singh is an NFL journalist for The SportsRush. She is currently pursuing engineering, but her passion for writing and love for American football led her to join The SportsRush in 2024. With prior experience at various media outlets across genres, Sneha has been following the sport for the past three years. What started from coffee table banter with her friends arguing for their favorite teams, soon developed into a deep-rooted love for the sport. Before she knew it, Sneha was passionately following the offseason, tracking trades, draft prospects, and heartbreaking retirements. The two teams she holds closest to her heart are the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers. The last two years have been quite eventful for Sneha, as both of her favorite teams made it to the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons. However, her first live game ended in heartbreak when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Eagles on the grandest stage. The disappointment carried into the following year when the Chiefs beat the 49ers. Even Jason Kelce announced his retirement, which she wasn't thrilled about, but she appreciates that he's still connected to the league in various ways. When it comes to covering a story, it's not just the on-field action that excites Sneha but also the behind-the-scenes strategies, stories, and business dealings. She currently has over 400 articles to her name. Outside the NFL, Sneha finds solace in fiction. Whether it's books, films, anime, or video games, as long as there is a good story with creative expression, she's there for it. On the flip side, Sneha also likes to code and is an avid ML developer. What little time is left when she is not writing, consuming, or coding, Sneha likes to play the guitar.

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