Matthew Stafford may have spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions after the team selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but it doesn’t sound like there are many warm and fuzzy feelings remaining between Stafford and Lions fans.
On Sunday night, Matthew Stafford returned to Ford Field for the first time since he left the team ahead of the 2021 season when his Los Angeles Rams took on the Lions in Detroit. And he did not get a warm welcome from the fans, as he was showered in boos from the Detroit fans.
After the game, Stafford seemed to indicate that those feelings go both ways. When asked for his thoughts on the city of Detroit after the team won its first playoff game since 1991, Stafford had a very careful answer as he avoided saying he was happy for Lions fans or the city of Detroit, instead saying that he’s just happy for the Lions players.
Rams HC Sean McVay said he was happy for his ex-QB Jared Goff. I asked Matthew Stafford if he's happy for the city of Detroit, seeing as how he played his first 12 seasons here: "I'm happy for the players." pic.twitter.com/K738IcmkyD
— Kory E. Woods (@KoryEWoods) January 15, 2024
“I’m happy for the players. I’m happy for those guys,” Stafford said.
Obviously, it’s a pretty brutal message for Lions fans, and the NFL world had a lot to say about it on social media as a result.
I don’t need him to be happy for me just like he didn’t need me to be happy for him when he won it all. I still appreciate the 12 yrs he put in here.
That’s me. Do what you want with your feelings https://t.co/OK8bFS1JUe
— Meko (@themekoscott) January 15, 2024
Bitter, weak, disrespectful response from Stafford
Thought he was just going to come into OUR HOUSE and win, but when that didn’t happen he couldn’t even show any respect to the crowd and city that gave him so much?
That’s tuuuurrriiibbbblllleeeeee#DetroitKoolaidCast #AllGrit https://t.co/1fJbKXsAAn pic.twitter.com/sHvLRtK22l
— Derek Okrie (@DerekOkrie) January 15, 2024
Lions fans booing him right before the game is fine, he’s the opponent. Him saying this right after playing a competitive game is fine, he’s a competitor.
Long run, Stafford will always mean a lot to Detroit and vise versa. Don’t take to heart things surrounding competition https://t.co/YzwKQ15sHT
— Space Coyote (@SpaceCoyoteBDS) January 15, 2024
You don’t need to feel bad for the extremely rich man. He’s gonna be fine. He’s just beat up and mad he lost. https://t.co/4QnsYfkaFh
— Big Daddy Drix 🏳️🌈 (@BigDaddyDrix) January 15, 2024
My guy, did you expect a standing ovation? You of all people should know that we aren’t going to cheer against our own team especially in the playoffs. If you enter ford field in an opponent’s jersey, you’re the enemy, doesn’t matter who you are. https://t.co/X7lKVOJtB0
— Bex watches 🏒 and other stuff too (@ThatBeccaPerson) January 15, 2024
What a lame, bitter response https://t.co/EOWpQpI9vS
— Jim Costa (@JimCosta_) January 15, 2024
Bro thought Lions fans were going to hug him and give him a kiss on the cheek during the playoffs lmao https://t.co/20RJBgPsfG
— Championship Connoisseur (@UMvsEveryone) January 15, 2024
It’s pretty clear that the relationship between Stafford and the city of Detroit has turned sour.
