Despite several winning seasons with Jared Goff under center, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay knew the upside of his team was capped.
McVay had grown increasingly frustrated with Goff during the 2020 season, especially after losses where the quarterback struggled with making throws and giving away the football. After yet another early playoff exit, it felt like Goff’s time in Los Angeles had come to an end.
By chance, Matthew Stafford had requested a trade from the Detroit Lions and was coincidentally vacationing in Cabo San Lucas the same time McVay was. After the two met over drinks, McVay went back to his hotel room where he implored the front office to trade for Stafford, via Seth Wickersham of ESPN:
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?”
It only took a few days after that fateful meeting for Stafford to become a Ram, changing McVay’s and the team’s course for the 2021 season. After another all-in move from the front office, McVay was able to lead the Rams to a Super Bowl LVI victory and validate the team’s roster-building approach.
With Stafford signing an extension in the offseason and McVay getting his as well, L.A. is positioned to compete for championships for the foreseeable future much to the delight of their fans.
