Kelly Stafford posted a simple note of affection this week as her husband prepared to open another NFL season, sharing photos from a short trip the couple took before the Los Angeles Rams face the San Francisco 49ers.
The Rams quarterback and his wife spent time at Lake Tahoe in the days leading up to Week 1. The game also carries the unusual extra of a later trip to Australia as part of the league schedule.
Kelly Stafford captioned the photos “A reset before the chaos.” She added, “I just love this man [red heart emoji].”
Friends and teammates noticed. Media personality Erin Andrews replied, “Love u both.” Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was among those who liked the post.
Matthew Stafford has spoken often about how much those quiet stretches matter to him. He has credited head coach Sean McVay with making room in the calendar so players can be with their families.
The break is available to the whole roster. For Stafford it is more than a vacation. He has said family time is what keeps him grounded after years of Sunday crowds and weekday meetings.
In August he sat down with Greg Olsen on “Youth Inc.” and talked at length about his wife and daughters. He praised Kelly Stafford for handling the daily details at home, including coordinating the girls’ matching outfits.
Stafford called his family “the most important thing in my life.” He said they sacrifice so he can keep playing.
“They are incredible supporters of mine, backbone to what I do, also the thing that gives me the most perspective in life. I love playing this game,” Stafford said.
He continued, “People chant your your name or they cheer for you and all that out there in a stadium. But the people that matter to me the most are the people, when I get home, and they give me the most honest feedback and the most loving feedback. And so, I appreciate them. I think they know the sacrifices I make to be around as much as I can. I bring my girls in every off day on Tuesdays in the morning to have breakfast with me before I take them to school.”
Stafford went on, “There’s a lot of sacrifice that they make, whether that’s Kelly running so much of what goes on at our house, or my girls not being able to see me as much as they would like. But I’m home every night for dinner when I’m in town. I’m there as much as I can when I have time off, and I’m lucky enough to play for a head coach, Sean, that understands that and gives me the opportunity to be around them as much as I can. And I, frankly, wouldn’t still be playing this game if that wasn’t the case. And so I appreciate him for that and my family for that.”
McVay has returned the compliment. Asked this week about Stafford mentoring rookie quarterback Ty Simpson, the coach described a veteran who leads without making a show of it.
“He’s like as great of a teammate and leader just the way that he is naturally. Just his ability to deal with people. I think the most important and powerful thing is seeing, just watch the way that he moves. And then, he’s also so willing to share and answer questions. And so, I’ve just seen Matthew be himself,” McVay said.
McVay said that approach has been consistent throughout their years together.
“He just has poured into that room. And I’ve really seen him put his arm around Stetson [Bennett] and, obviously, Ty’s mentioned how much he’s helped him. But we’re very lucky to have a guy that just is an incredible football player, but more importantly, an incredible person just with the way that he moves in a day in dayout basis.”
McVay added, “Even just doing some different things in in walkthrough settings, it’s–this guy’s really, really special. And these guys, I thin they know how fortunate they are to see what it looks like from the best.”
Stafford has taken on extra work with the younger quarterbacks while still preparing for the opener. Teammates say the veteran’s calm presence in meetings and on the practice field sets a tone the rest of the offense tries to match.
The Los Angeles Rams open the regular season against a familiar NFC West rival. For Stafford the week began with a few days away from the facility, a reminder of the balance he says he needs to keep playing.
Kelly Stafford’s post captured that moment in a handful of pictures and two short sentences. The replies that followed showed how many people around the team already understood what those days meant to the family.
It will be interesting to see what kind of season the Los Angeles Rams and Stafford are able to put together.
