Los Angeles Rams rookie cornerback Josh Wallace was among the team’s biggest surprises in 2024. An undrafted free agent who made the 53-man roster, Wallace contributed both on defense and special teams. He appears to be a building blocker for Sean McVay moving forward.
Wallace recently spoke exclusively with Rams Wire. Wallace discussed his rookie season, making the roster, being coached by McVay and Jim Harbaugh, winning a National Championship, and so much more.
Justin Melo: It was a whirlwind of a rookie season. You signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent and made the 53-man roster right out of training camp. What will you best remember about that period?
Josh Wallace: Mostly the relationships I built along the way. Of course that training camp period was my first time meeting the veterans, and also the rookies that came in with me in our class. The relationships I built throughout that brief period of time, that’s what I’m going to remember the most.
JM: What’s the biggest lesson you learned throughout your rookie season?
Josh Wallace: I really learned the importance of taking care of your body throughout an NFL season. Your best ability is availability. That was definitely the biggest lesson I learned this past season.
JM: You didn’t just make the roster. You immediately contributed. You played a ton of defensive snaps throughout the season, starting right away in Week 2. What do you think it was about your mindset that allowed you to play right away?
Josh Wallace: I stayed ready for my opportunity. That’s all it really was. You can’t always control what happens in this league, what happens in front of you. When your opportunity comes, no matter how hard you’re playing, you have to be prepared for the moment.
I feel like I did a great job staying prepared this season. I started a handful of games as a rookie. Being ready when your number gets called, that’s what it comes down to in this league. That’s what it’s about at the end of the day.
JM: It wasn’t the first time you handled a step up in competition with ease. You went from UMass to Michigan in 2023 and won a National Championship. Being on that stage, is that when you felt like there was no doubt you could play at the NFL level?
Josh Wallace: I mean, I’ve always had that confidence in myself, even when I was at UMass. I’m sure there were a lot of people that didn’t believe in me until I did it at Michigan, but I always believed in myself. I believed I would make it to the NFL one day even when I was a freshman at UMass. I made it happen for myself.
JM: You’ve been blessed in recent years, being coached by Jim Harbaugh and Sean McVay. How are they similar, and how are they different?
Josh Wallace: They’re both player coaches at the end of the day. Us as players, you want to play for both McVay and Harbaugh. They’re great people off the field. They have great relationships with their players, and with their families. They care about their family, and that’s important to me as well, because family is everything. That made me want to play for them. That’s why I love playing for them.
I would actually say they’re not too different from each other, besides the age gap (laughs). That’s the biggest difference.
JM: No doubt (laughs). You also contributed a bunch on special teams this season. Did you have to acclimate and adjust to that role? It certainly helped you make the roster, and be active all year long.
Josh Wallace: Coming in as an undrafted guy, I knew playing special teams gave me my best shot to make the team. I heard that from a few of my older friends around the league, guys who came in under similar circumstances.
I did what I had to do to make the team. Whenever my opportunity came, I was ready to make splash plays, even on special teams.
JM: We’ve appreciated your time today. What are your goals for this offseason as you prepare for your sophomore season?
Josh Wallace: My goal is to continue building on the rookie season I had in 2024. I want to develop and earn a bigger role on the team. I’m spending the offseason with my family. I’m going to continue taking great care of my family. I’m working on self-improvement. That’s all I can do.
I’m going to keep controlling what I can control.
