Technically speaking, Matthew Stafford is still a member of the Detroit Lions. He will remain that way for another month, as the trade that will send him to the Los Angeles Rams won’t become official until the start of the new league year on March 17.
So as his time in Detroit comes to a close, both he and his wife Kelly took one last stroll inside Ford Field on Saturday morning, per Kelly’s Instagram.
“A lot of emotions as I watched Matthew walk around Ford Field for the last time this morning,” Kelly Stafford captioned on Instagram. “..a place full of incredible memories that we shared with 65,000 of our closest friends.. so proud and grateful to have been a part of that family. #staffordstrong”
In his 12-year career, Matthew Stafford played 83 games in that building, throwing for 23,051 yards and 156 touchdowns. In fact, at Ford Field he almost delivered as many wins (41) as losses (42)—an incredible feat when you consider the horrible teams he’s had to be a part of.
There’s always a chance Stafford steps in the building again as a player. The Rams and Lions face off in 2021, but in Los Angeles. However, if both teams finish in the same place in their respective divisions in 2021, they’ll play each other in 2022 in Detroit. And there’s always the off-chance the two meet up in the playoffs.
But, for now, it’s probably safe to say we won’t see Stafford in Ford Field for another few years, maybe much longer.