Maybe you can't come home again. Ahead of the Detroit Lions wild-card matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, the faithful at Ford Field didn't have the kindest greeting for their former quarterback, Matthew Stafford.
As Stafford ran onto the field before kickoff, Lions fans serenaded him with loud, ferocious boos from all corners of the stadium.
Lions fans boo Matthew Stafford as he takes the field in Detroit
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 15, 2024
@NFL | #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/GWMTE338bj
The No. 1 overall pick by the Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft, Stafford spent 12 seasons in Detroit until a 2021 trade sent him to the Rams in return for Jared Goff and draft picks. During his time with the franchise, Stafford led the team to only two winning seasons and went 0-3 in the postseason. However, in his first season in L.A., he helped the Rams earn the Lombardi Trophy following a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
Now, he returns to Detroit looking to spoil the Lions' first home playoff game since 1994 while aiming to prevent only the second postseason win by the franchise in 67 years.
Perhaps that's why fans weren't overjoyed to see Stafford again.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!