Prior to their matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card Round, the Los Angeles Rams shocked the football world by signing Eric Weddle to a contract for the remainder of the season.
The six-time Pro Bowler had been retired for two years after last suiting up for L.A. in 2019. He added depth to the safety position as Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp suffered injuries in the team’s Week 18 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Although he didn’t anticipate playing much, Weddle has taken on a huge role in the Rams’ defense. He was on the field for 60 snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and led the team with nine tackles in last Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
While he has shown to still have plenty left in the tank, Weddle revealed that he plans to return to retirement after Super Bowl LVI, via AM 570 L.A. Sports:
“It’s so singular focus because I know this is it, right? This is a chance of a lifetime to be able to be here with these guys and come back. It was never a thought, like I said last week. It’s amazing to be able to understand that and know that I don’t have to save myself for next season, I don’t have to save myself for the offseason, I didn’t have to save myself for the Super Bowl last week knowing it wasn’t guaranteed, so I was throwing it in there, giving it everything I got. Because listen, I don’t have anything left after this other than going back and doing what I was doing before. After this Super Bowl, I move on and go back to my old life and there will be no comebacks. There will not be playing – another team, another game – no, no, no, no.”
Weddle, 37, was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He spent nine seasons with the organization before joining the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent in 2016.
After three years in Baltimore, Weddle signed a two-year contract with the Rams prior to the 2019 season. He started all 16 games that year and recorded 108 tackles.
Weddle’s return to L.A. has been productive thus far, and with retirement once again on the horizon, he would love nothing more than to end his career with a Super Bowl title.
