What ‘chaos’ is Kelly Stafford bracing for before Matthew Stafford’s Rams opener vs. 49ers?

Kelly Stafford knows the quiet part of September is nearly over.Days before Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams begin their 2026 NFL season in Australia, Kelly shared photos from a Lake Tahoe getaway with her husband. Her caption was only two sentences, but the timing said plenty about what comes next.Why did Kelly Stafford call her trip with Matthew Stafford ‘a reset before the chaos’?Kelly posted several photos from the couple’s trip to Homewood in Lake Tahoe on Friday. The pictures included the Staffords sitting together by the lake, selfies, lakeside moments, and time aboard a private yacht.She summed up the trip simply on Instagram. “A reset before the chaos. I just love this man.”The “chaos” is arriving quickly.Matthew and the Rams are scheduled to open their regular season against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia.The matchup sends Los Angeles across the Pacific for Week 1 before the rest of a schedule Kelly has already described as difficult for their family.The couple has four daughters, and Kelly previously addressed what the Rams’ 2026 schedule could mean at home. In an Aug. 17 Instagram Story, she reacted after taking stock of Los Angeles’ travel, holiday games and prime-time appearances.“My just now realizing the Rams play in Australia, play on Christmas, play on Thanksgiving Eve, have 7 (possibly more) prime time games, and DON'T HAVE A REAL BYE WEEK. Parenting this season will be such a joy,” Kelly wrote.That makes the Lake Tahoe caption less cryptic than it first appears. The Staffords were taking time together immediately before a season that begins thousands of miles from Los Angeles and comes with an unusually demanding calendar for their family.For Matthew, it will also mark the start of his 18th NFL season.Why does family time matter so much to Matthew Stafford during an NFL season?Matthew has spoken directly about the role Kelly and their daughters play in allowing him to continue his career.During an August appearance with Greg Olsen on “Youth Inc.,” Stafford called his family “the most important thing in my life.” He also credited Kelly with handling much of what happens at home while his NFL schedule takes him away.“They are incredible supporters of mine, backbone to what I do, also the thing that gives me the most perspective in life. I love playing this game,” Stafford said.He explained that the attention he receives as an NFL quarterback does not carry the same weight as the people waiting for him at home.“People chant your your name or they cheer for you and all that out there in a stadium. But the people that matter to me the most are the people, when I get home, and they give me the most honest feedback and the most loving feedback.”Stafford also said he tries to build his daughters into his football routine whenever possible. He brings them to breakfast at the team facility on Tuesdays before taking them to school and makes a point of being home for dinner when he is in town.That balance has also become part of Stafford's relationship with Rams head coach Sean McVay.Stafford said McVay understands the importance of giving him opportunities to spend time with his family. The quarterback went further, saying that flexibility has helped extend his career.“And I, frankly, wouldn’t still be playing this game if that wasn’t the case. And so I appreciate him for that and my family for that.”Now the regular season is here.The Rams reached the NFC Championship Game last season, and Stafford is preparing for another run with Los Angeles. Before the meetings, flights, games and travel begin, Kelly’s photos captured something much smaller: a few days with her husband while his calendar still allowed it.“A reset before the chaos” was not just a cute vacation caption. For the Stafford family, the schedule explains exactly what she meant.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.