ATHENS — Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford acknowledges that he needs to display more school spirit for his alma mater, the Georgia Bulldogs. Stafford, who played for UGA from 2006 to 2008 and was the top pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, admitted his discomfort with the fervent enthusiasm of Georgia fans.
Stafford revealed that he feels uneasy when fans enthusiastically shout “Go Dawgs” at him. “I actually get wildly uncomfortable when people, like, bark at me,” he said. “I’ll be walking down the street, and they’ll say, ‘Go Dawgs,’ and I’ll respond with a simple ‘Yeah.’ I never return the ‘Go Dawgs.’ It just doesn’t feel right to me. I’m not sure why.”
Despite his personal discomfort, Stafford recognizes that his wife, Kelly, a fellow UGA alum, would likely appreciate him showing more support for the Bulldogs in public. When prompted by a Barstool Sports host to engage more with the fans, Stafford agreed, saying, “I need to. My wife is from Georgia, so I’ve got to make her proud.”
Four years ago, Stafford and Kelly made a significant $1.5 million donation to the University of Georgia, supporting the school’s social justice programs and scholarships. “Being able to give back to Georgia and help college students during their formative years is important,” Stafford said in an August 2020 interview. “We’re fortunate to partner with the athletic association and the football team, which is creating an excellent program there. We’re happy to be a part of it.”
Stafford emphasized that the donation aimed to make a broad impact, benefiting both athletes and non-athletes. “We’re just trying to make as big an impact as possible,” he noted, “especially at a time when it’s crucial to do so.”
The Staffords’ contributions coincided with Georgia’s back-to-back CFP Championships following the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and Stafford’s own Super Bowl victory in February 2022. As Stafford returns for another season with the Rams, he recently experienced a hamstring injury that cut his practice short on Wednesday. Former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett is currently serving as the Rams’ backup quarterback, with veteran Jimmy Garoppolo suspended for the first two games of the season due to a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
