Matthew Stafford grateful for raising daughters, says having a son would be challenging
Matthew Stafford opens up about raising four daughters (Image via USA Today)
NFL star Matthew Stafford is opening up about fatherhood from a deeply personal lens—one that celebrates his role as a proud 'girl dad' of four daughters and rejects the notion that he's missed out by not having a son.
Speaking on The Morning After, the podcast hosted by his wife Kelly Stafford, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback shared why raising daughters feels like a blessing—and how it saved his child from the weight of early expectations.
NFL star didn't want his son living under public expectations too soon
For Matthew Stafford, legacy isn't about passing on stats or a playbook—it's about protecting childhood. He didn't want his kids growing up being compared to their dad or constantly measured against NFL standards.
That's especially true if they had a son.
'I thought it would be extra challenging if we did have a boy. I've known what it's like to have expectations since I was 15 years old or so, probably,' Stafford admitted. 'I thank my lucky stars that I didn't have that from six to 15. I was able to just be a kid who could throw a ball a little bit, was good at other sports, and had fun.'
The Morning After with Girl Dad Matthew Stafford
Raising four daughters gives Stafford a fuller, richer experience as a father
That sense of freedom is exactly what he wants for his children—Sawyer and Chandler (twins, born in 2017), Hunter (2018), and Tyler (2020).
Instead of football pressure, the girls explore dance, gymnastics, T-ball, and more. Stafford cherishes their unique personalities and avoids pushing them into sports stereotypes or expectations tied to his NFL legacy.
Kelly Stafford adds her own perspective, reflecting on how important it is to let kids be kids. 'Love showing them old videos of them dancing and acting silly… reminding them it's ok to not take life so seriously,' she wrote.
Also read:
Did Mike Tomlin deceive the NFL? Steelers secretly built offense around Aaron Rodgers while misleading media
Together, the Staffords paint a picture of a grounded, emotionally aware family dynamic—one where parenting isn't about raising the next star athlete but about encouraging joy, balance, and authenticity. For Matthew, not having a son isn't a regret—it's part of what has made his fatherhood journey so meaningful.
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