Childhood friends Clayton Kershaw and Matthew Stafford, who grew up together in Dallas, Texas, have both reached the pinnacle of their sports. They met around age seven and played on the same youth and high school teams, with Kershaw as a star pitcher and Stafford as a standout quarterback.
After graduating together from Highland Park High School in 2006, their professional paths diverged but their bond remained. Kershaw was the seventh overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006, while Stafford was selected first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Through decades of separate but stellar careers, their friendship has endured, with each frequently seen supporting the other from the sidelines.
How Did Matthew Stafford’s Wife React to Clayton Kershaw’s World Series Victory?
Clayton Kershaw’s farewell season culminated in a storybook ending as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series. The Dodgers secured the championship by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in a thrilling 11-inning Game 7 at Rogers Centre.
Following the victory, Matthew Stafford’s wife, Kelly, took to Instagram to share her excitement for Kershaw. She celebrated the win by reposting several uploads, adding her own heartfelt reactions. On a post with the caption, “Thank you, Clayton,” Kelly added several heart emojis to show her support.
Another story she shared showed Kershaw embracing his family on the field, accompanied by the caption, “Clayton Kershaw goes out a champion.”
The dramatic conclusion to the game came when Mookie Betts turned a key double play to end it. Kershaw, who was warming up in the right-field bullpen, initially did not realize the Dodgers had won. He believed there were still two outs remaining.
It wasn’t until bullpen catcher Josh Bard shouted, “We just won the World Series,” that the reality of the moment set in for the veteran pitcher. Kershaw then joined the exuberant celebration on the infield, where he was greeted with hugs from teammates he had played alongside for years.
“It’s hard to put into words, honestly,” Kershaw said, via MLB.com. “I’m just so grateful. The way that my career, this season, has ended has been more than I could have ever hoped for. I’m just a little bit speechless, a little bit shocked that we won this one tonight.”
Although Kershaw’s on-field role in the series was limited, his contribution was significant. He recorded just one out, but it was a crucial one. In the 12th inning of Game 3, with the bases loaded and two outs, Kershaw induced a groundout from Nathan Lukes to escape the jam and keep the Dodgers in the game. That single out proved to be the final one of his career. Throughout the season, Kershaw made 23 appearances, including 22 starts, and posted a 3.36 ERA.