Before entering his fifth season with the Rams, Matthew Stafford took a time machine back to the days of his college football career. The 133-year-old Bulldogs’ mothership still maintains a strong connection with the QB. Drafted in 2009 by the Lions, the veteran quarterback carved a 12-year legacy in Detroit before taking over Los Angeles. But his roots remain grounded in red and black. At Georgia, Stafford led the Bulldogs to a 30-9 record, forever etching his name into their decade-old football lore. Even though the turf had changed, Stafford isn’t forgetting to give a nod to the past. 

Fresh from a heartfelt visit to their alma mater, Matthew and Kelly Stafford brought all four of their daughters back to Athens. They weren’t just visiting. It was a full-circle moment. Kelly shared a photo on Instagram with the caption, “Home is always a good idea.” The entire Stafford clan stood smiling widely, their joy radiating as they reunited with Georgia roots.

Kelly opened up about the trip on their podcast, her Southern charm unmistakable. “Um, no, but we went to — we, uh, we got to go back to Athens. Got to take our kids, which is pretty awesome… I mean, the entire place is very, it’s incredible. Very different. And the facilities, my goodness.” For the Staffords, Georgia was the kickstarter pad where everything began.

That connection runs deep. Matthew Stafford’s junior-year breakout at Georgia led to him being selected first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. His talent was molded between the hedges. Kelly, a proud alumna of UGA, spoke fondly of the place where she used to be a cheerleader. “Um, no, but we went to — we, uh, we got to go back to Athens. Got to take our kids, which is pretty awesome… I mean, the entire place is very, it’s incredible. Very different. And the facilities, my goodness,” she said. Clearly, Kelly appears to be in love with the facilities and efforts by the University.

“If you are an athlete right now deciding where to go to college… I would really go check out Georgia… Oh yeah, the facilities are insane.” In fact, Stafford and his wife donated $1.5 million to the University for the school’s social justice programs and scholarships.

Then came the ultimate one-liner spicy enough to spark heated debates. “I told Matthew I was like, no offense to the NFL. But colleges have y’all beat.” And she may have a point. The University of Georgia now boasts elite facilities like the $80 million renovated Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. The investment shows how seriously the Bulldogs take development. 

Matthew agreed. The Super Bowl winner, with nearly 60,000 passing yards, knows pro-level standards. He also admitted college setups are now next-level. “Yeah, it’s — it’s amazing. They definitely are doing what they can to try to take care of athletes and give them the best chance to be successful. That’s for sure.” In addition, he praised Coach Kirby Smart’s efforts.

Now, Smart had made his not-so-positive feelings about NIL deals clear a couple of months back. Stafford credited Georgia for handling it well. “I think Kirby does a great job of — and Georgia as a whole does a great job of… Balancing act… You probably miss out on certain people. And then you go win with the guys that you have.”

It’s not just news of football that catches Stafford’s attention. Away from the turf, he made heartfelt comments stemming from humanity. 

Matthew Stafford “can’t imagine” the Texas floods!

Matthew Stafford took a break from gridiron talk during a recent guest spot on his wife Kelly Stafford’s YouTube show. He paused to reflect on a heartbreaking tragedy that struck Harrison County, Texas. A Boy Scout camp had turned into a scene of horror. The devastation hit especially close for Stafford, who has deep ties to East Texas.

“Awful thing to see,” Stafford said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I can’t imagine in the middle of the night waking up to something like that, whether you were… You know, at the camp or around, but it’s tough thing to look at… tough to understand why those kind of things happens.” His pain was visible as he tried to make sense of the loss.

The disaster claimed the life of an 11-year-old Scout and sent others to the hospital. Stafford did not just acknowledge the pain — he carried it. “There were a lot of people out there, brave that were, you know, there’s some amazing stories from it too of people trying to save people,” he said. “But definitely heart-wrenching…… people of that region of the country hits pretty close to home for me.”

The emotional segment came during a reflective offseason for the Rams veteran. After a strong 2024 season, Stafford now returns with renewed energy. With Puka Nacua emerging fast, Stafford’s 2025 campaign has the potential to be one of his most explosive yet.