Defensive back Jordan Fuller has been named the Los Angeles Rams’ nominee for the 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. This is the second time Fuller has been nominated for the award by the Rams as he also received that honor in 2021.
The Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award was created in 2014 in honor of the late, great Art Rooney Sr., a Pro Football Hall of Famer and founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The award is presented every year to the player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents and integrity in competition.
Fuller undoubtedly demonstrates those qualities in every way and is an excellent choice as the Rams nominee for the award. He was voted as a team captain by his Rams teammates for the second time in only his fourth NFL season.
Fuller is currently second on the Rams with 64 tackles to go along with three forced fumbles, two passes defensed, and one interception in 10 games so far this season, all starts for the Ohio State product.
Each team will nominate someone for this award. A panel of four former NFL legends, Larry Fitzgerald, Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler, will then narrow that group down to eight players, four from the NFC and four from the AFC. Current players will then vote on the winner in December on the Pro Bowl ballot.
Sean McVay credits Rams defense for win vs. Seahawks
For the time being, Fuller is focused on helping lead the Rams to victories on the field and he did just that on Sunday with an impressive 17-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Fuller finished with six tackles and with the offense struggling for much of the game, McVay credited that Rams defense for their effort.
“Unbelievable effort by our defense today,” McVay said. “They kept us in the game and I thought it was key and critical for the offense to be able to get into a rhythm when they had to. Would’ve loved to have been able to punch that last in instead of having to kick the field goal where you’re forcing them to have to go get a touchdown at the end there.
“But man, I’m just so proud of this group. I think the grit was on display, the mental toughness, the ability to get stops, the ability to be able to feed off of one another. Really happy for our group and happy for those players and the coaches did a great job.”
