A Lions fan who recently sold his prized autographed jersey of former Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford got the gift of a lifetime from the Super Bowl champion.
Bryson Machonga, a 34-year-old Lions fan from Appleton, Wisconsin, wanted to bring his 9-year-old daughter Kinsley to her first Lions game. That game, as detailed in a story from the Detroit Free Press, happened to be the NFC Divisional against the Washington Commanders.
Tickets for the game were expectedly quite high. To pay for the tickets, Machonga sold some prized possessions, including an autographed Stafford jersey from his time in Detroit.
Stafford caught wind of Machonga’s action and made sure he to more than just a replacement jersey. Stafford gifted Machonga an autographed jersey. Not just any signed jersey, but one he wore in a game back in 2014. Stafford also wrote a personal message to Machonga.
“To Bryson, Thanks for all the support!” Stafford wrote in addition to signing the jersey.
“I was over the moon. … Disbelief at the start. But then it just turned into resounding joy, excitement,” Machonga said, via the Free Press (H/T Rams Wire).
“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.”
