Detroiters react to Stafford’s Super Bowl win
Many Detroit fans tried to embrace Stafford’s Super Bowl appearance as their own. But some aren’t as happy to see Stafford win.
Washington Football Team Game .Description: www.allproreels@gmail.com -- from the Washington Football Team vs. Detroit Lions at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan, November 15, 2020 (All-Pro Reels Photography)
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl champions. Sadly, that’s not a title Stafford was able to achieve during his 12 seasons as a Detroit Lion. The 34-year-old quarterback won the Super Bowl in his very first year after being traded away by the Lions.
“He never trash talked Detroit on his way out of town. He was an easy guy to root for.” — John Niyo, Detroit News
Plenty of Lions fans — but not all — are happy for Stafford. Some local businesses even started selling “Detroit Rams” merchandise. That’s as many fans tried to embrace Stafford’s Super Bowl appearance as their own.
Listen: Detroit News sports columnist John Niyo reacts to Matthew Stafford’s Super Bowl victory.
Guest
John Niyo is a longtime sports columnist for The Detroit News. He says it makes sense to him that many Detroit fans were pulling for Stafford and the Rams.
“He never trash talked Detroit on his way out of town,” says Niyo. “He was an easy guy to root for.”
Niyo says many Lions fans felt that it was the franchise that let Stafford down, not the other way around.
“He embraced the challenge and the idea of being a Detroiter. He did a great job of representing the city,” he says.
Related: Are you happy for Matthew Stafford’s success?
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