Life in the NFL moves fast as one day a player is part of the locker room and the next day he is packing for a new city. That is exactly what happened with wide receiver Tutu Atwell. After spending several seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, the speedy pass catcher is now heading to a new team. As the news spread,
Matthew Stafford’s wife Kelly Stafford shared a heartfelt message saying goodbye to someone her family truly loved.
Kelly posted the message on her Instagram story and made it clear how much Atwell meant to them. The Stafford family often saw him during games and team events, and their daughters grew very fond of him over the years. In her message, Kelly wrote, “One of the favorites of my family, including my daughters… You will be missed, but so happy you’re going home, Tutu Atwell.”
The post quickly caught attention among Rams fans who remembered the wide receiver’s big moments in Los Angeles.
Matthew Stafford and Kelly Stafford say farewell as Tutu Atwell leaves Los Angeles Rams and signs with Miami Dolphins
Tutu Atwell’s time with the Los Angeles Rams officially came to an end after the 2025 season. The wide receiver had signed a one year, $10 million contract extension with the team in March the previous year. But once that deal expired, he entered free agency and soon found a new opportunity with the Miami Dolphins.
For the Stafford family, the departure felt personal. Matthew Stafford and Kelly Stafford have four daughters: Sawyer, Chandler, Hunter, and Tyler. Over the years, the girls have developed a real love for football. They regularly attended games and followed their father’s career closely.
Kelly even created a special tradition for their trips. She called it the “Stafford Sisters Stadium Series,” where the daughters traveled to watch Matthew Stafford play both home and away games.
Because of that tradition, the family witnessed some memorable moments involving Tutu Atwell. One of the biggest came during a dramatic game against the Indianapolis Colts last season.
Late in the fourth quarter, the score was tied 20-20 with less than two minutes remaining. From deep inside his own territory, Matthew Stafford launched a long pass downfield. Atwell caught the ball, beat his defender, and ran all the way to the end zone for an 88 yard touchdown. The Rams went on to win the game 27-20.
According to league statistics, that play became the longest go ahead touchdown in the final two minutes of a game in the 21st century.
Still, opportunities were not always easy to find for Atwell in Los Angeles. The Rams had several talented receivers during his time there. Players like Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Puka Nacua, and later Davante Adams all played key roles in the offense. Because of that depth, Atwell often had to wait for his chances.
Since being drafted 57th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, he appeared in 64 regular season games and started 27 of them. During his Rams career, he recorded 105 catches for 1,535 yards and five touchdowns.
Now the wide receiver is heading to Miami, Florida, the city where he was born in 1999. The Dolphins are looking for a fast receiver who can stretch defenses and create big plays. For Atwell, the move offers a fresh opportunity and a chance to show what he can do with a bigger role.