At a Glance
- Matthew Stafford pulls his daughters into bed at 2:30 a.m. after the Rams lose 31-27.
- He sends a box of donuts to wake them up, calling them his “rockstars.”
- The game was the 2025 NFC Championship, a 31-27 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks.
Why it matters: The moment shows a star quarterback prioritizing family over the sting of a playoff loss.
The Los Angeles Rams faced the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship on Jan. 25. The game ended with a 31-27 score in Seattle, a result that left the Rams short of a Super Bowl appearance. Matthew Stafford completed 22 of 35 passes for 374 yards, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Stafford’s performance capped a season that was the best of his career: 46 passing touchdowns and 4,707 yards. After the loss, he told reporters, “I can’t generalize six months of my life 10 minutes after a loss… I appreciate the guys in this locker room a whole hell of a lot.”
In the hours after the game, Stafford returned home and immediately turned to his four daughters. His wife, Kelly, shared two Instagram Stories on Jan. 26 showing him tucking the kids into bed at 2:30 a.m.
The first story featured a Nest video of Stafford placing Sawyer and Chandler, twins 8, into their blankets. Kelly captioned the clip, “After leaving everything out on that field and coming up short, at 2:30 a.m., this was Matthew.”
The second story revealed a box of donuts waiting for the girls. Kelly posted, “Donuts for the most supportive and resilient little girls.” The box read, “Thank you for being such rockstars for me all season long! Y’all were the inspiration for daddy’s incredible year! We ❤️ you!!”
Kelly and Matthew, 36, are parents to twins Sawyer and Chandler, 8, Hunter, 7, and Tyler, 5. The couple met at the University of Georgia and married in 2015.
Before the game began, Stafford had a quick huddle with his daughters on the field, a moment that Kelly later described as a “season to witness in person.” She posted a gallery of the family at games, noting how the passion for football “instilled in my daughters” and how the experience taught them about hard work and resilience.
Kelly added, “Watching their dad fail, realizing it’s ok, and it’s how you respond to that failure that makes up who you are.” She also said she was “incredibly blessed to witness the man I love, with the girls I love, do the thing he loves most.”
Stafford’s journey began with the Detroit Lions in 2009 before joining the Rams in 2020. In February 2022, he and the Rams won Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The 2025 NFC Championship was Stafford’s 17th season in the NFL. He remains under contract with the Rams through 2026.
The Seahawks will advance to Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif., where they will face the New England Patriots.
Key Takeaways
- Stafford’s early bedtime routine shows a quarterback prioritizing family over the aftermath of a playoff loss.
- The Instagram stories highlighted the personal side of a public figure, offering fans a glimpse of his life beyond the field.
- Despite the loss, Stafford’s season statistics remain the best of his career, underscoring his continued excellence.
The story underscores the human side of professional athletes and reminds fans that behind the headlines are families and routines that keep them grounded.
