“It hasn’t gotten any easier”: Kelly Stafford gets candid about the painful side of NFL WAG life

The wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford recently opened up about missing her family and the home she left behind nearly two decades ago. In an emotional Instagram post shared by her, Kelly admitted that being away from her loved ones still hurts, even after 18 years. The message offered a very different look at the reality of life surrounding an NFL career. While being an NFL wife can appear glamorous from the outside, Kelly's post highlighted one of the quieter sacrifices that can come with it.Kelly Stafford opens up about the side of WAG life fans rarely see“I miss home. I miss my family,” Kelly wrote alongside a carousel of family photos. “18 years away and it hasn’t gotten any easier. Anyone else move away and feel this way?”For years, Kelly has been part of the NFL lifestyle alongside Matthew, who has spent his career playing in different cities. The couple met while attending the University of Georgia and eventually married in 2015. They now have four daughters and have built their own family, with Kelly frequently supporting Matthew and the Rams during the NFL season.But having a family of her own has not completely replaced the feeling of being close to the family she grew up with. Kelly's latest Instagram post was filled with photos capturing moments with her family, making her caption feel even more personal. Rather than focusing on the glamour surrounding an NFL lifestyle, she put the spotlight on what can be lost when a person moves away from home for years at a time.Her message also resonated with followers who had experienced similar situations. Several commenters shared their own stories of moving away from their hometowns and families, including people who had relocated because of marriage, military service, or other life circumstances.From Detroit to Los Angeles, Kelly has spent years adaptingKelly's experience has involved more than simply moving from one house to another. Matthew spent the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Detroit Lions before moving to the Los Angeles Rams. Kelly has therefore spent much of her adult life adapting to a new city and building a new sense of home around Matthew's football career.She has previously been open about how difficult that adjustment could be. Looking back on her time in Detroit, Kelly said she loved Matthew but also struggled with her own identity and where she fit into his world.“Looking back at Detroit, I would say I was happy because I loved him, but I was also unhappy because I didn't really know where I fit in or who I was,” she said during an episode of The Cutting Edge podcast. She added that moving to Los Angeles helped her realize that she could pursue what she wanted for herself as well.That perspective makes her latest Instagram post even more revealing.Kelly now has a husband and four daughters of her own, but her latest message shows that distance from her original family can still weigh heavily. She has previously discussed how difficult it can be to reconnect with her siblings as everyone gets older and busier. Her brother Chad Hall, a former NFL player who has also worked as a coach, has spoken about trying to make time for family during the limited breaks in the football calendar.That is perhaps the most relatable part of Kelly's confession.The term “WAG” is often associated with game-day outfits, luxury travel, famous events and life alongside professional athletes. Kelly's post offered a reminder that there is another side to thatFor Kelly Stafford, 18 years away from home may have brought a husband, four daughters and a life of her own, but as her latest post makes clear, part of her still misses the home and family she left behind.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.