Joe Burrow’s on-field struggles have sparked unexpected empathy from veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford’s wife, Kelly Stafford. Why? Because Burrow’s rocky ride with the Cincinnati Bengals brought back flashbacks of Stafford’s roller-coaster days with the Detroit Lions.
On her YouTube podcast, Kelly pulled no punches, sharing how tough it was watching her husband face uphill battles with little support. The Bengals’ star QB seems to be living a parallel football life. For Kelly, it’s a déjà vu moment that’s all too relatable.
Kelly Stafford Compares Joe Burrow’s Struggles to Matthew’s Lions Years
Burrow’s struggles are hitting a raw nerve for Kelly Stafford. On her The Morning After Media podcast, Kelly shared how watching the 27-year-old struggle with the Bengals reminded her of the tough years her husband spent with the Lions.
“Bengals and the Chargers, that was such a good game. It was impressive,” Kelly began. But then, her tone shifted to one of sympathy. “To be honest, it is reminding me of when Matthew played on the Lions for a bit. Like you can tell how good and talented he is, it’s just the team is not winning, and that is frustrating.”
Here, Kelly’s words speak to a sense of empathy and shared frustration. As a wife who’s watched her husband battle through years of underwhelming teams, she recognizes the silent agony that comes with being a talented quarterback on a struggling team.
Kelly isn’t just seeing Burrow’s poor stats or losses — she’s feeling the emotional toll. She’s reliving the frustration Stafford faced during his years with Detroit, where individual brilliance wasn’t enough to overcome a dysfunctional team.
She adds, “So I texted Matthew and I was ‘I kind of feel for him. Because I felt for you in those times.'”
This text to Stafford shows her deep understanding of the isolation and helplessness Burrow might be feeling. Kelly’s empathy is palpable — she knows this pain all too well from her own experiences with her husband.
The parallel to Stafford’s 12 seasons with the Lions is stark. Despite his obvious talent, the veteran QB was unable to break through in Detroit, making only three playoff appearances and never securing a postseason victory.
Finally, Kelly’s statement about Burrow’s potential (“You can tell how good and talented he is…”) reveals her belief that, like Stafford, Burrow has the capability to shine — if only the pieces fall into place. Just as Stafford’s move to the Los Angeles Rams brought him success, she sees hope for Burrow.
In conclusion, Kelly’s reflections aren’t just about the X’s and O’s of football. They speak to the emotional reality of being a talented QB stuck on a losing team.
Burrow’s Frustration Hits Breaking Point After Another Crushing Loss
Burrow’s frustration is reaching peak levels. After the Bengals’ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11, the LSU Tigers product pulled no punches.
“We’re not a good enough team,” Burrow alluded.
With a 4-7 record, the team’s caught in a cruel loop of close losses. Six of their seven defeats have been decided by a touchdown or less. Ouch.
“Just gotta make the plays,” he said, and that’s the cold, hard truth. Burrow’s frustrations are more about execution in the clutch, where the Bengals keep falling short. Burrow owns his part in the struggles: “I gotta make those plays, we all gotta make those plays.”
Joe Burrow on the loss to the Chargers: pic.twitter.com/AVpZU93wfD
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) November 18, 2024
Sunday’s game? A mini-movie of Bengals drama. Down 27-6, they almost pulled off a miracle comeback, tying it at 27. But with under 20 seconds left, the Chargers hit the game-winning touchdown. Burrow’s last-gasp Hail Mary to Tee Higgins almost worked, but not quite.
The Bengals’ season feels like déjà vu — and it’s a real struggle for their franchise QB.