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Rams QB Matthew Stafford returns to Ford Field to boos vs Lions

Screen Shot 2024-05-28 at 9.09.17 AMby:Kaiden Smith•01/14/24•

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Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford made his return to Ford Field on Sunday night ahead of the Rams’ playoff matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Stafford spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Lions before being traded to Los Angeles ahead of the 2021 season. But his welcome to Detroit was not a warm one despite his memories with the franchise, met with boos when he took the field on Sunday as the Lions seek their first playoff victory since 1992.

Check out the jeering Stafford received from Detroit fans when he took the field for the Rams below.

Current Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was traded for Stafford as the two switched teams in the offseason three years ago. As Lions fans showed their loyalty to their newer QB1 by chanting his name loudly in unison name prior to the exciting playoff matchup.

Lions fans may be playing the villain tonight during Stafford’s return to the Motor City, but there’s no denying his legacy and impact on the franchise. Stafford is Detroit’s franchise leader in completions, passing yards, and touchdown passes by a large margin, and is also a member of the Detroit Lions All-Time Team.

Detroit selected Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Georgia and he would go on to make one Pro Bowl with the Lions, win the 2011 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award, and lead the Lions to their only three playoff appearances since 2000 before Sunday’s game against the Rams.

On March 18, 2021, Stafford was traded to the Rams in exchange for a package that included Goff, a 2021 third-round pick, and two first-round picks in the 2022 and 2023 drafts.

Stafford quickly embarked on his new opportunity with the Rams, matching a career-high with 41 touchdown passes in the regular season and 4,886 yards as he led Los Angeles to a 12-5 record, the best finish of his career as a starter. He’d go on to 13 touchdown passes in the postseason and lead the Rams to a Super Bowl LVI win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

This year Stafford led the Rams to an impressive 7-1 finish to the regular season following a slow start to insert Los Angeles back into the playoffs. Where he now meets his former squad led by Goff who led the Lions to their first NFC North title win since 1993 and their first 12-win season since 1991.