The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, but that hasn’t stopped Kelly Stafford from wondering about a major “what if?” scenario that briefly took center stage. During Tuesday’s episode of her podcast, “The Morning After with Kelly Stafford & Hank,” Kelly Stafford, wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, opened up about the recent trade rumors linking her husband to the Minnesota Vikings.
The 36-year-old quarterback had been the subject of speculation as the Rams were struggling earlier in the season. Rumors surfaced that the Vikings might be interested in trading for Stafford, prompting Kelly to question what might have been.
“Matthew to the Vikings: Now, there was no truth to this, which was very interesting because I opened up Instagram one day and saw, ‘Oh, do I need to start looking for a home in Minnesota? What’s happening?’” Kelly recounted on her podcast. She was clearly caught off guard by the rumors, which seemed to come out of nowhere.
Kelly went on to explain that she chose not to address the rumors directly with her husband. “And that’s one thing you don’t want to text your husband, ‘Hey, have you heard if you’re getting traded?’” she said. “That didn’t happen because I’m not going to text him that. I also just think it is inappropriate in a way when he’s with a team for me to even bring it up unless he brings it up, because he’s seeing it too. It’s not like he’s not seeing these rumors, correct?”
Matthew Stafford, now in his fourth season with the Rams after being traded from the Detroit Lions in January 2021, was at the center of the trade chatter in October as the Rams tried to rebound from a rough 1-4 start. As the rumors swirled, Kelly found herself contemplating the potential consequences of a trade that never actually materialized.
Since those difficult early weeks, the Rams have turned their season around with a three-game winning streak, improving their record to 4-4.
They’ve also retained another critical piece of their offense—wide receiver Cooper Kupp—who had also been rumored to be on the trading block. Despite the team’s recent success, Kelly couldn’t help but think about what might have happened if things hadn’t improved.
“I was thinking about it—in our world now, what would happen if that rumor was true? What would happen if we hadn’t won a game again and Minnesota offered something for Matthew that the Rams were like, ‘Yeah, this works,’” Kelly said. “The what-if for me was like, OK, I’ve always told myself we will never separate our family because it’s not fair to anyone. It’s not fair to him to not be able to see his girls, it’s not fair to the girls to not see their dad, and I would lose my mind without him.”
Kelly, a mother of four, expressed her empathy for the families in the NFL who have to deal with the reality of being uprooted on short notice and moving their lives across the country.
“When the first rumor hit, I was like, ‘What’s happening?’” Kelly said. “Obviously, I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of girl, and to be honest, I think what I would do is just pick up and go. I’d lease a place for six months, put the kids in a public school there for the fall, and then come back in the winter.”
Kelly acknowledged that such a move would be difficult for their daughters, who have become settled in Los Angeles. “The girls would be devastated if we had to move,” she admitted. “But you try to make it an adventure—that’s what we did for the move here, but they were way younger. You feel for the families that are just kind of getting moved around a bunch.”
Kelly also reflected on the nature of the NFL and how challenging it can be for players and their families. Moving at a moment’s notice is just part of the business, and families often have to make significant sacrifices. “You feel for the families that don’t have a lot of stability,” she said. “It’s a tough life, and while we are so grateful for the opportunities, it’s not always easy.”
For now, though, the Staffords are staying put in Los Angeles, where Matthew remains focused on helping the Rams continue their resurgence.
With the Rams now sitting at second place in the NFC West behind the Arizona Cardinals (5-4), they are looking to build on their momentum. The Rams will next host the struggling Miami Dolphins (2-7) on Monday night, with hopes of keeping their winning streak alive.
Kelly’s candid reflection on the trade rumors offers a glimpse into the life of an NFL family and the uncertainty that often comes with it. Despite the challenges, she remains supportive of her husband and ready to adapt to whatever comes their way.
The future may be uncertain, but one thing is clear—Kelly Stafford is ready to face it with resilience, humor, and an unwavering commitment to her family.
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