The Los Angeles Rams have been a bold franchise since they hired head coach Sean McVay. McVay was viewed as one of the brightest offensive minds in the game from an early age, and the Rams decided to turn the keys of the franchise over to him. Some scoffed at the decision, but it paid off.
McVay led the Rams to the Super Bowl, but they couldn’t quite get over the hump against Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the New England Patriots.
The Patriots’ defense confounded McVay’s offense and stymied then QB Jared Goff. McVay and the organization did some soul-searching and realized they needed an upgrade at the quarterback position if they were going to win an NFL championship.
Did Matthew Stafford Force His Way Out of Detroit?
Simultaneously, the Detroit Lions franchise signal-caller Matthew Stafford searched for a way out of the only franchise he knew. Stafford provided the Lions faithful with many good years, but Detroit’s inept front office could never build a winner around the gunslinger.
Stafford asked for a trade to a contender, and the Detroit front office obliged.
Matthew Stafford literally spent 12 years with the Detroit Lions and now has the same amount of Super Bowl rings as Aaron Rodgers pic.twitter.com/rx9LsnkEMj
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) February 14, 2022
Stafford was the perfect fit for McVay’s offense and opened up the entire playbook, making the Rams’ offense more explosive and able to threaten NFL defenses vertically.
In his first season as the Rams’ starting QB, Stafford led Los Angeles back to the Super Bowl. This time, the Rams were able to get over the hump, defeating the Bengals to become champions.
Why Was Stafford the Right Fit for the Rams?
The Rams needed a veteran solution. From the front office to the coaching staff, L.A. knew they had a talented team capable of winning an NFL title.
The front office also knew they were being held back by a quarterback due to a lack of talent. Goff wasn’t a bad QB, but he’s always been a game manager, and everything always has to be perfect around him.
"There's no reason for them to cheer for me anymore and the fact that they did is just a true sentiment to who they are as people and who they are as fans."
Matthew Stafford shouts out Detroit Lions fans for their support 👏🏽🏆pic.twitter.com/B7unuTvc15
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 14, 2022
Stafford brought the proven track record and veteran leadership needed for a locker room filled with veterans hungry for a title. The Rams could not have brought a rookie into that spot with defensive stalwarts like Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald. They would have eaten a youngster alive.
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Stafford demanded their respect and attention and immediately paid dividends, building a rapport with L.A.’s top offensive weapon, Cooper Kupp. Kupp was a solid receiver prior to Stafford’s arrival, but Stafford lifted him to All-Pro heights, and their connection became unstoppable.
Would the Rams Make the Trade Again?
The trade with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams for Matthew Stafford was completed this weekend:
The Rams got: Matthew Stafford
Lions got: QB Jared Goff, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, WR Jameson Williams, DE John Paschal, RB Jahymr Gibbs, TE Sam LaPorta, and DT Brodic Martin pic.twitter.com/usxpfAwNs9
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 2, 2023
To acquire Stafford, the Rams dealt Goff and several early draft picks. Would Los Angeles do the deal all over again?
Absolutely. Stafford put the Rams over the top and won them a Super Bowl. They never would have climbed the mountain top if not for the acquisition of Stafford.