Kelly Stafford says she was wrong to criticize Colin Kaepernick

SJ Lynn

Kelly Stafford says she was wrong to criticize Colin Kaepernick image

Kelly Stafford, the wife of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, has apologized for criticizing NFL players for kneeling during the national anthem.

"When (Colin) Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem, I had strong feelings about it," Kelly Stafford wrote in an Instagram on Saturday. "Even when he kept saying it had nothing to do with the flag or military, I didn’t listen. I kept not listening to him or anyone else and let the political rhetoric persuade me that him kneeling was disrespectful to our military.

"Over the past several months, I have opened my ears, mind, and heart and it has opened my eyes to see how wrong I was and for that I am sorry."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This is something that Matthew and I have been thinking and talking about for several months now. When Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem, I had strong feelings about it. Even when he kept saying it had nothing to do with the flag or military, I didn’t listen. I kept not listening to him or anyone else and let the political rhetoric persuade me that him kneeling was disrespectful to our military. Over the past several months, I have opened my ears, mind, and heart and it has opened my eyes to see how wrong I was and for that I am sorry. This systematic racism is not going away unless we ALL work on it by working on ourselves and those around us. It’s time for everyone to do their part to help end this system. Matthew and I thought this was a good place to start. We are proud to be a part of this program and we will keep fighting to help end this social injustice. Black Lives Matter.

A post shared by Kelly Stafford (@kbstafford89) on

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The Staffords donated $350,000 to their alma mater, the University of Georgia, to support Kaepernick's cause. The money will help fund a social justice program for the school's athletes.

The program aims to “implement strategic initiatives in the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity and social justice,” according to Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity.

SJ Lynn

SJ Lynn is a social media editor and in-studio host for Sporting News.