Years after carrying the Detroit Lions through some of the franchise’s toughest stretches, Matthew Stafford opened up honestly about the emotional and physical grind of playing in the Lions. 

This week, the Lombardi Trophy winner, Matthew Stafford, appeared on the Magic Mind podcast with founder and childhood friend James Beshara, where he reflected on his time as the starter of the Motor City team for twelve years. 

“You know, you're sitting there going, I feel like I'm playing good football. We're not winning games. This is not fun,” Stafford said. “You know…you don't ever want to jog out on a Sunday…when they call your name out and run out and be like, well, we're going to lose today.”

The former Lions quarterback accepted that he was not just playing football, but also actively fighting pessimism.

The Lions finished fourth four times and third three times out of their 12 seasons from 2009 to 2020. Also, they lost three times in the wild cards, per Pro Football Reference.

“But that's when I think it's so hard in my it would be really hard in my opinion to go from this pessimistic look of like, hey, our team is what it is,” Stafford said. “We're not playing at a high level…”

Stafford reframed his mindset multiple times throughout his stay, from pessimism to optimism to realism. 

He focused on improving his individual performance while helping his team to improve. Instead of living in fake optimism, he focused on improving each week.

“What can I do to help us be better? What can I do to give our chances of winning a little bit more probability?” Stafford said.

He also spoke about the emotional toll that comes when personal performances do not translate into team success. 

Even through the losing seasons, Stafford said he constantly reminded himself to appreciate the opportunity of playing NFL football.

Surviving those Lions years was just as much a mental battle as it was a physical one, per Stafford.

Matthew Stafford Opens Up About Performing Under NFL Spotlight

While answering the host James Beshara about the pressure of playing in front of packed NFL stadiums every week,  Matthew Stafford admitted he intentionally avoids viewing himself as a superstar despite knowing how fans see him.

“Real deal answer for me on that… I don't see myself as that person,” Stafford said on the Magic Mind podcast. “I know… people might see me as either that caliber of player or somebody that they've wanted to come watch their whole life.”

Stafford explained that embracing that image would create unnecessary mental pressure. He is aware of the fact that many in the NFL community see him as the star player. 

Instead, the Los Angeles Rams star quarterback focuses on gratitude and the opportunity to still compete at the highest level and remain consistent with the production. 

“Each time I run out there… I have a ton of gratitude for the ability to still do it,” Stafford said. “I love every minute of it, even the hard times.”

Even playing under the NFL spotlight, Stafford believes staying grounded is what keeps him going and still delivers the victories.

Read more at Quarter Back Central!

Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker