American NFL player Matthew Stafford’s father John Stafford, has been a role model for him. John was able to impart a lot of insights into sports to Matthew- guiding & encouraging him to competitive sports.
Even if Matthew chose a different career path than his dad (who specialized in swimming), the 2014 Pro Bowl still leans toward his father’s values- thrive for the best!
John Stafford now enjoys the privilege as the father of the 2021 Super Bowl champ.
His son Matthew Stafford plays for Los Angeles Rams (2019- Now). The 2022-23 season is Stafford’s his 2nd with the team and 14th NFL season overall, having played for Detroit Lions earlier.
It is undeniable that John’s support & encouragement proved a booster for Matthew’s NFL achievements.
The former swimming coach would enroll his son in competitive sports like basketball, football, baseball & swimming from a young age.
Probably, you are curious to know more about the American football quarterback’s father John Stafford. Here in this article, we provide you with everything about Matthew Stafford’s dad.
Matthew Stafford Father | Quick Facts
Full Name | John Matthew Stafford |
Birthday | February 7 |
Residence | Tampa, Florida |
Nickname | John |
Religion | Christianity |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Age | In his late 60s |
Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Food Habits | Non-Veg |
Marital Status | Divorced |
Wife | Margaret Stafford |
Children | Two |
Grandchildren | Six |
Profession | Swimming Head Coach (Former) |
Retired in | 1982 |
University | Florida State University |
Hair Color | Grey |
Eye Color | Light Brown |
Tattoos | None |
Hobbies | Golf |
Net Worth | Under Review |
Merch (Of Son Matthew Stafford) | Signed Rookie Card |
Last Update | October 2024 |
Matthew Stafford Father, John Stafford | Career
John Stafford is a former swimmer and a swim coach- explains the NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s professional athletism and agility.
Stafford (Matthew’s dad) attended the University of Georgia, where he was a college swimmer & later became its graduate assistant coach (1970 fall- 1972).
Subsequently, he joined The Bolles School as its coach for 4 years until 1976.
Then, John joined Florida State University as head coach of the men’s swimming team from 1977 to 1982- leading them to three Metro Championships.
The Seminoles had a 30-16 overall record during his time in charge (.652). The team’s 9-2 season in John Stafford’s first season has the best record (.818).
Under his coaching, the team played at Southern Intercollegiate Championships and the National Independent Championship.
Early Life & Age
John Stafford was born in Florida- his birthday is on February 7. Though further detail on his early life- his parents & family background is outside the media reach.
From his appearance & work experience, the former swimmer cum coach seems to be in his late 60 as of October, 2024.
John stands nearly as tall as his NFL player son Matthew Stafford, 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) & 220 lbs (100 kg).
Retirement As A Coach
In July 1982, John Stafford retired as a coach and began working in an insurance company.
Later, he joined Motorola in 1988 and had a job offer in Atlanta- that would relocate his family to Dallas in 1990.
John Stafford Is Good Friends With Jack Bauerle
While at Georgia University, John Stafford was the direct coach of Jack Bauerle, a butterfly and distance specialist. The mentor-mentee relationship would later turn to friendship.
After a few years of Stafford’s departure from the college, Bauerle became Georgia State’s women’s swimming coach in 1978– later of men’s swimming in 1983. He even led the team to 11 SEC Championships and seven national championships.
And when John Stafford’s son Matthew Stafford joined the University of Georgia, it brought John and Bauerle even closer.
Fun Fact: John and Jack Bauerle, who were once mentor-mentee and now friends, share their birthday, i.e., on February 7.
John Stafford (Matthew Stafford’s Father) | Wife & Children
A former swim coach John Stafford is a divorcee- he and his ex-wife Margaret Stafford are parents to two kids: Matthew Stafford (an NFL player) and Page Stafford (b. September 29, 1986).
Many know Matthew as a proficient NFL player.
On the other, John’s daughter Page works as a marketing manager at Omni Fort Worth Hotel (2018-20, 2021- Now), having worked as its content marketing manager earlier.
The University of Georgia graduate (in 2009) also has work experience as:
- Account Supervisor at HCK2 (2020-21)
- Senior account executive for Forte Marketing & Public Relations (2010-12).
John Stafford’s ex-wife Margaret’s full name is Margaret Christian; she was born on April 30, 1957, and is 36 years old.
The former duo (John and Margaret) divorced in the early 2000s when their son Matthew was in high school. Though they remain on good terms.
After the divorce, John Matthew Stafford got into another relationship- with Cathy Stafford, his alleged second wife.
Matthew Stafford Father | Grandchildren
John Matthew Stafford is now a grandfather of six grandchildren- four from his son Matthew’s side and two from his daughter Page’s side.
Matthew Stafford (John’s son) shares four daughters with his wife, Kelly Stafford (nee Hall), the younger sister of former Chad Hall- a former NFL player & current Buffalo Bills wide receivers coach.
Kelly and Matt welcomed twin daughters: Sawyer and Chandler, on March 31, 2017, which they confirmed via Instagram later in April. The two young, attractive blonde girls have grown beautifully with time.
The couple then became parents of the third child, daughter Hunter on August 16, 2018. Their fourth child, daughter Tyler, was born on June 26, 2020.
Now, talking about John’s eldest daughter Page Elizabeth Stafford, she has 2 kids with her husband, Michael Dawson Clark, a 2006 graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science.
They married on May 4, 2013, at the Church of The Incarnation in Dallas.
Who Is John Stafford’s Daughter-In-Law Kelly Stafford?
Kelly Stafford, formerly Kelly Hall, is the daughter-in-law of John Stafford. She is a model, podcaster, nurse, and mother to Matthew’s children.
Kelly and Matthew attended the same college. She was a cheerleader while Matthew played football for the Bulldogs. They started dating right away. However, they had a protracted on-off relationship until being married on April 4, 2015.
The Morning After with Kelly Stafford is Kelly’s podcast, where she and her guests discuss various issues.
She made headlines in September 2022 after hinting that a future episode of her podcast would be a story centered on O.J. Simpson.
Kelly has also balanced her full-time mothering responsibilities with her employment as a licensed nurse and soccer coach. She became a licensed nurse in 2015.
John Stafford’s daughter-in-law Kelly underwent brain-tumor surgery on April 21, 2019. The 12-hour surgery was a success, but she had to relearn walking & other daily activities.
She discussed feeling dizzy back in January 2019 and was diagnosed with a brain tumor (acoustic neuroma) on April 3.
Brief About Son Matthew Stafford | Career & Accolades
John Matthew Stafford was born in Tampa, Florida, on February 7, 1988. He is a professional football player and plays as a quarterback with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League.
While playing college football for Georgia, he was a first-team All-American, and the Detroit Lions selected him first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Matthew is fourth in all-time passing yards per game and the quickest NFL player to reach 40,000 passing yards. The player ranks in the top 20 for pass attempts, completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.
From 2009 until 2020, Matthew served as the Lions’ regular starter. In 2011, he had a breakout season, becoming the fourth NFL quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season. As a result, the player guided the Lions to their first playoff berth since 1999.
Likewise, In 2014 and 2016, Matthew guided Detroit to two more postseason appearances, winning Pro Bowl honors in the former. He also broke the NFL season record for most comeback victories in the latter.
Mathew moved to the Rams in 2021 after he and the Lions amicably decided to separate ways, and he helped them win Super Bowl LVI.
Matthew and the Rams agreed to a four-year, $160 million agreement on March 19, 2022. After battling pain the whole previous season, the player underwent an elbow operation on his right elbow during the offseason.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Does Matthew Stafford have a son?
No, Matthew does not have a son. The NFL player has four daughters (including a twin) with his wife Kelly Stafford.
Is John Stafford on Social media?
Yes, Matthew Stafford‘s father John Stafford has an Instagram account. Though he is not active on the platform.
What is Matthew Stafford‘s net worth?
Matthew has a net worth of a whopping $80 million. The player receives $61 million in total earnings in the 2022-23 NFL season.