Matthew Stafford: 'I Loved My Time in Detroit'
The Lions will square off with an all-time great of the franchise when they take on the Los Angeles Rams this weekend.
You maybe have heard of him. He's Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, spent 12 seasons in Detroit, and more than left his mark on the team and the city during his time with the organization.
Over the course of his tenure in the Motor City, he became the best signal-caller in franchise history, setting numerous Lions records for quarterbacks.
He became the team's all-time passing leader, with all-time franchise highs in passing yards (45,109), passing touchdowns (282), fourth-quarter comebacks (31) and game-winning drives (38).
But, he also experienced a myriad of losing campaigns, including three straight to end his Lions career.
The losing wore more and more on him as time went on, and he finally decided to request a trade out of Detroit this past offseason.
Now, with the 5-1 Rams, Stafford has a chance to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season and for just the fourth time in his career.
The 33-year-old reflected on his time in Los Angeles so far and how it stacks up with his tenure in Detroit during his media session with L.A. reporters Wednesday.
"I'm extremely happy to be here (in Los Angeles). I pinch myself, getting the opportunity to play for this team, with these players and these coaches," Stafford said. "As far as comparing it to Detroit, I'm not going to do it. I just know that I'm having a blast, playing a bunch of football with some great players and great coaches. I loved my time in Detroit. I loved all the experiences that I had -- some of them were tough, but they helped mold me into the player and the person I am today. I spent some really meaningful time in my life -- both on and off the field -- in Detroit, and I really enjoyed all of it. I'm having fun, (with) what I'm doing right now. I had a great experience for 12 years in Detroit. That's kind of how I want to leave it."
Even with Stafford now playing for the "enemy" in the Lions' Week 7 matchup with the Rams, he still has the support of a large sect of the Detroit fanbase -- something that he appreciates.
"For people to take some happiness in any kind of success that any former player is having away from their building is really just a testament to them. That's the kind of people they are in Detroit. Great people, both in the organization and in the city itself," Stafford commented. "I really did enjoy my time. I had great relationships built, and maybe that has something to do with it. But, I think it's more of a testament not to me, but to the people of Detroit. That they can cheer for an ex-player as much as I guess they have for me."
Stafford and the Rams are set to square off with the Lions Sunday at 4:05 p.m. (EST) from SoFi Stadium.
