The Rams bet big on Matthew Stafford last offseason by trading Jared Goff, two first-round picks and a third-rounder to the Lions for the veteran quarterback. It was a trade that came somewhat out of left field, considering the Rams had just signed Goff to a contract extension the year before.
It was also a deal that Sean McVay absolutely pounded the table for. As much as he caped for Goff in his first three seasons, McVay desperately wanted the Rams to acquire Stafford after it became publicly known he requested a trade from the Lions.
In a wide-ranging, excellent interview with ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, McVay revealed the insanely passionate speech he gave Rams brass over FaceTime while in Cabo last offseason – where Stafford was also vacationing.
They met for drinks poolside, talking football. A bond forged over sun and booze. McVay returned to his hotel and, “a few tequilas in,” he says now, hopped on a FaceTime with Rams brass, unleashing a plea that’s now legendary around the team’s office. “Here’s the f—ing deal, OK? We can sit here and exist, and be OK winning nine to 11 games, and losing in the f—ing divisional round and feel like, ‘Oh, everything’s OK.’ Or, we could let our motherf—ing nuts hang, and go trade for this f—ing quarterback, and give ourselves a chance to go win a f—ing world championship. You ready to f—ing do this or what?”
Think he wanted the Rams to make a move for Stafford? Think he was content with being just a decent team with Goff at quarterback?
That’s the speech of a man on a mission to win a championship, not win a division title. Goff helped lead the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018, but he regressed considerably in 2019 and 2020, to the point where his relationship with McVay became fractured.
Part of what makes the Rams such a strong franchise is the connection McVay has to the front office, specifically to GM Les Snead and COO Kevin Demoff. He even has the trust of owner Stan Kroenke, who McVay called when the Rams were considering a deal for Stafford. With a coach and front office that works in unison like the Rams’ do, it’s no wonder they’re in contention almost every year.
