Kelly Stafford got on the mic and said she had some things to air out as trade rumors swirl about her husband, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
During the latest installment of her “Morning After” podcast, Kelly explained that its been upsetting to see speculation about Stafford’s future, such as headlines about his potential retirement — and that she wants him to get the respect he deserves as a veteran quarterback in the league.
“I love the city of LA… and I love the life that we have built here,” Kelly said. “With that being said, I love an adventure. I am all for it. Right now, if the Rams decided that they wanted to trade him or Matthew decided he didn’t want to play for the Rams, I am good. Move my family, yeah that might be tough — first month hard — after, it turns out, I like my kids to be resilient. Moving them is not easy … but I have four girls who have four built-in best friends, so it ain’t that difficult.”
Married since 2015, the couple has four daughters, 7-year-old twins Sawyer and Chandler, 6-year-old Hunter and 4-year-old Tyler.
“I value being respected and wanted over convenience. So, it would be very convenient to say… but if someone doesn’t feel valued then, let’s go an adventure. Turns out if I have my husband and my kids, I’m good, I don’t need anything else.”
“Do we want to stay in LA? Yeah, but a lot has to happen. My husband wants to win. He’s not trying to put a team in a bad situation. If you’re catching my drift, you’re catching my drift. He wants to win, he’s on the end of his career. There has to be a slight feeling of being value or respected.
“… I feel like I have to be the dog in this situation. I want the respect for him that he deserves. … I was just going to slide past it but it has been upsetting me.”
Kelly went on to explain that she doesn’t understand why the Rams are seeking a trade for veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp — who won a Super Bowl alongside Stafford with the Rams in the 2021 season and was named MVP of the game.
Kupp, 31, announced Monday that the team informed him they were seeking a trade immediately, and that he did not agree with the decision.
Kelly didn’t seem to agree either.
“I will say, the trading away of Cooper, I am a little confused because we were one play away from the NFC Championship and I think if we go, we win,” she said. “Then you’re in the Super Bowl and I think we have a chance against Kansas City.
“Now in the offseason, you’re talking about trading your veteran wide receiver who has been a pillar in this place for eight years since he got drafted and does far more than people know.
“… And there’s now talk about trading your quarterback away. I don’t get it. It confuses me, but again, I am up for an adventure. Why not? Who’s to say I am not going to fall in love with another city?… We want to be here, but I am not scared of going elsewhere and I don’t think he is, either.”
Stafford’s seventh season with the Rams ended in a 28-22 loss to the Eagles in the divisional round on Jan. 19 in Philadelphia.
The Super Bowl champ informed the team that he wants to play next season, but his future in Los Angeles reportedly remains uncertain.
“I just want to keep playing good football,” Stafford told Forbes in an interview published Wednesday. “I love competing. Obviously getting a chance to make runs in the playoffs, competing for Lombardi trophies is what it’s all about. Once you get a taste of one, you want more of them. I love playing this game.”
Stafford finished the season throwing 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions and a solid 93.7 pᴀsser rating.
