Matthew Stafford’s Heartfelt Gesture After Rams’ Victory Over Seahawks Redefines Sportsmanship
Los Angeles, California — November 18, 2025
As the Los Angeles Rams celebrated their hard-fought 21-19 win over the Seattle Seahawks, the excitement and energy inside SoFi Stadium was palpable. But among the cheers and high-fives, a quiet, powerful moment on the sideline would soon steal the spotlight, proving that football is more than just a game of wins and losses.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, after enduring one of the roughest nights of his career, sat alone on the sideline, head buried in his hands. The weight of the defeat was evident. Darnold had faced a tough Rams defense all night, and the loss felt heavier with each passing minute. Despite his efforts, the game had slipped away from him, and for a brief moment, it seemed like he was left to carry the emotional burden alone.
But just as it felt like the weight of the loss would be too much to bear, an unexpected figure appeared.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had just led his team to victory, quietly walked across the field and approached Darnold. In a gesture no one saw coming, Stafford reached out, offering Darnold a hug. The embrace wasn’t just about sympathy; it was a quiet act of respect, empathy, and support — something that transcended the fierce competition of the game.
"I NEVER THOUGHT AN OPPONENT WOULD TREAT ME LIKE THAT. MATTHEW IS A BETTER PERSON THAN WHAT PEOPLE SEE ON TV. HE’S NOT JUST AN OUTSTANDING QUARTERBACK – HE’S AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING. THAT MOMENT… IT MEANT MORE TO ME THAN HE’LL EVER KNOW,” Darnold said after the exchange, his voice filled with emotion.
In a sport often defined by rivalries, hard hits, and intense competition, Stafford’s moment of kindness reminded everyone of the humanity that still exists behind the helmets. While both quarterbacks had been in the heat of battle all night, Stafford’s ability to show compassion in the aftermath of victory was a reflection of his true leadership — not just as a quarterback, but as a person.
For Darnold, the embrace offered more than comfort; it was a reminder that, in the end, football is about more than just the final score. It’s about lifting others up in their moments of struggle and showing respect for the challenges that every player faces, no matter the outcome.
While the Rams will remember their victory for their impressive performance, it’s this moment of genuine sportsmanship that will stand out as the true highlight of the night. Stafford’s actions serve as a reminder that, sometimes, the greatest victories are found not on the scoreboard, but in the way we treat each other in the toughest of moments.
Dan Quinn Speaks out on Commanders Releasing Kicker Matt Gay Before Bye Week
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Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn delivered a message on releasing kicker Matt Gay.
The NFL is very often a tough business. That’s the overall message Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn delivered when he addressed the team releasing kicker Matt Gay ahead of the team’s bye week.
The Commanders moved on from the veteran kicker the day after he missed two kicks in the league’s first-ever regular season matchup in Spain. One of those misses was a 56-yard attempt in a tie game with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Miami Dolphins defeated the Commanders during overtime of that matchup 16-13.
“Matt has been a fantastic teammate here,” Quinn told the media Tuesday. “An all-time good dude, so really bummed that didn’t work out. But we just felt like this was the change that we needed.
“This is what we think, at this time, is the best decision for the team. When they’re hard like this one because of who the person is, it makes it especially difficult. But you still have to make the decisions that you think are best for the whole team.”
In 10 games this season, Gay made a career-low 68.4% of his field goals.
Gay was particularly struggling from long distance. Of his six misses this season, five of them came from 50 yards or farther away.
The 31-year-old kicker was in his first season with Washington. He has also kicked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts.
In 100 career NFL games, Gay has made 84% of his field goals. He’s also connected on 96.6% of his extra points.
Gay, who was a Pro Bowler with the Rams in 2021, didn’t miss an extra point in Washington.
Commanders Release Struggling Matt Gay
As is often the case with NFL kickers, Gay’s misses usually came in situations where a made field goal could have resulted in a different outcome for Washington.
That was the case in Spain. In addition to not connecting at the end of regulation, Gay was no good from 51 yards in the middle of the second quarter against the Dolphins.
In Week 6 versus the Chicago Bears, Gay missed a 50-yarder just before halftime. Washington lost that game by one point.
Furthermore, Gay went 1-for-3 against the Green Bay Packers during Week 2. The Commanders fell in that matchup 27-18.
Gay was well on his way to setting a new career high in misses this season. His six misses in just 19 attempts tied his mark in that category last year when he had 37 attempts.
While Gay owns an 84% success rate on field goals in his career, he hasn’t been above that percentage since 2022. From 2020-22, Gay made 92.5% of his field goals.
He spent all three of those seasons with the Rams.
Commanders Add Kicker Jake Moody
To replace Gay, Washington signed Jake Moody off the Bears practice squad Monday.
Moody’s original team, the San Francisco 49ers, waived him after he went 1-for-3 in the 2025 season opener. But the 25-year-old signed with the Bears practice squad, and the team elevated him for two contests in October.
In those two games, Moody went 8-for-9 and made all three of his extra points. Moody connected on four of five attempts in the 25-24 victory against the Commanders.
Seeing that success first hand could be a reason behind Washington poached Moody off the Bears practice squad.
As a rookie in 2023, Moody led the NFL with 60 extra points made. He owns a 76.1% field goal percentage in 34 NFL games.
