Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw’s Ties Go Way Back

When the Los Angeles Rams acquired quarterback Matthew Stafford in a trade with the Detroit Lions in January 2021, the franchise sent a special message to Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw on X.

Hey @ClaytonKersh22, have you heard from an old friend today?

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 31, 2021

Kershaw and Stafford have been friends since they were seven years old. The pair played baseball, basketball and soccer together, and both graduated from Highland Park High School in University Park, Texas. Kershaw and Stafford also went on to be first-round draft picks in MLB and NFL, respectively. 

Stafford even named a play after Kershaw when he was the quarterback for the Lions. He called the play in the third quarter of a Monday night game in September 2017 to get a first down and defeat the New York Giants.

The Rams’ 2021 trade deal not only allowed Los Angeles to secure a superstar quarterback but also reunited childhood friends, Stafford and Kershaw for the first time in their professional careers.

Photo Credit: Marianne Kershaw and Charley Dickenson

Since then, Stafford won Super Bowl LVI in 2022 with the Rams and is currently set to compete in the NFC Championship against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Stafford was also named the PFWA’s 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player and is a frontrunner for the AP’s NFL MVP Award this season.

Meanwhile, Kershaw won back-to-back World Series championships in 2024 and 2025 to finish his career with the Dodgers. Kershaw retired from MLB after the 2025 season but announced he will represent Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March.

Kershaw made his final regular season start at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 19 against the San Francisco Giants. Stafford was able to make an appearance at the game to support his friend.

“I got to see this guy at the beginning and to be able to see him do it now for so many years here in LA has been incredible. I didn’t want to miss this. I’m just so happy it fell on a night that I could be here,” Stafford said about watching Kershaw make his final home regular season start, per MLB.

For Kershaw, his MLB playing career has come to and. But Stafford is still going in the NFL and could win his second Super Bowl championship in February this season.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea | 2025 Oct 1

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