Bryson Machonga made the decision to sell his signed Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions jersey to take his daughter to an NFL playoff game, hoping the quarterback would understand his sacrifice. However, Stafford did more than just understand.
Stafford and his new team, the Los Angeles Rams, sent Machonga a new signed Lions jersey.
Initially, Machonga thought it might be a scam, but after a conversation with a Rams official, he realized that Stafford genuinely wanted to send him a real jersey. “I was over the moon. … Disbelief at the start. But then it just turned into resounding joy, excitement,” Machonga said in a recent phone interview.
“It just reconfirmed who Matthew Stafford is. He had no reason to go about doing this. He had no gain. He’s not our quarterback anymore … he went out of his way in a playoff week.”
Machonga, along with his 8-year-old daughter, Kinsley, drove from their home in Appleton, Wisconsin, to watch the Lions play the Commanders in an NFL divisional playoff game. To afford the expensive tickets, Machonga sold his Stafford jersey, which he had cherished for over a decade, along with some other memorabilia. Despite his love for Stafford, Machonga wanted to create a lasting memory with his daughter.
Before the game, Machonga and Kinsley enjoyed watching the players warm up, with Kinsley mentioning how much she enjoyed watching her favorite players celebrate after touchdowns. Despite the game’s result, Machonga said they had a wonderful time.
A few days after the game, Machonga received a message on social media. Stafford had seen an article about Machonga’s jersey sale in the Free Press and reached out to a Rams equipment manager for help. According to the messages, the manager connected with Machonga and shared an image of Stafford’s text.
“I don’t have social media etc but can we find this guy and send him a jersey of mine,” Stafford texted the equipment manager, sending a photo of the Free Press story.
Soon after, a package arrived containing a Lions jersey worn by Stafford during the 2014 season, when he led an 11-5 team, the best record of his 12 seasons in Detroit. The package also included a personalized message from Stafford thanking Machonga for his support.
The Rams did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Machonga expressed that he wanted to frame Stafford’s message, still in disbelief that one of his football idols wanted to help him. This act of kindness deepened his admiration for Stafford and the sport itself.
“No disrespect to Jared Goff, I love what Jared Goff has done for the Lions. But this is why (Stafford is) QB1 for me, forever,” Machonga said. “What he’s doing now, it goes beyond football.”
“It’s what sports are meant to do, bring people closer together. He did that — it speaks to his character.”
