Rams share new footage of Sean McVay's powerful message after playoff loss to Eagles
The Los Angeles Rams' season didn't end the way they hoped. While they may have exceeded expectations by making it to the divisional round of the playoffs, they had Super Bowl aspirations – and they came close to achieving them.
They came up just short against the Philadelphia Eagles, reaching the opposing 13-yard line with a chance to score a game-winning touchdown in the final minute. A couple of pressures by Jalen Carter derailed the drive and the Rams' season, but it was still a successful campaign for such a young team.
Sean McVay was gutted after that loss and for the first time, the Rams shared behind-the-scenes footage of his message to the team in their final meeting before breaking for the offseason. It can be seen at the beginning of the season premiere of 'Behind The Grind', which aired this week.
'Number one, the first thing I would say is just thank you. When you believe so strongly in something, there's no part of you that really thinks about the other end of it,' he said. 'That game yesterday was such a reflection of some of the different things that have occurred throughout the season. Different elements, different adversity, different ways of having to be able to overcome certain things. No way there's a chance that we're not going to win that football game. You're really 13 yards and a couple things away from us sitting here and we're talking about hosting an NFC Championship. And what will last about this team forever, it's not necessarily holding up that trophy, it's the relationships and the memories in the midst of that journey. There is no doubt about it that this team right here and the relationships that have been formed, that lasts forever. You can't take that away. It will be a very different team next year, and that's the hard part about it. But that's also the reality. This will forever be one of those memories and one of those seasons that I'll cherish and that's because of the men that I'm looking at right now. Give it up for yourselves. Love you guys, man. Appreciate it.'
It's always been easy to see why players love playing for McVay and why the Rams have become a destination team. He always gets the most out of his players and coaches, and his end-of-season speech to the entire group shows how much coaching means to him.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NFL analysts give positive prediction for Rams' 2025 season
The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2025 season with the hopes of improving on a solid 2024 campaign. The Rams brought back most of the roster that went to the NFC Divisional round a year ago and upgraded at positions like receiver and offensive line. Does that mean the Rams of this year will be better than their predecessor? That remains to be seen. Ali Bhanpuri and Adam Rank went through every game in the 2025 regular season to determine each team's win-loss record. Both of them picked L.A. to win double-digit games and make the postseason. Bhanpuri had the Rams going 11-6, winning the NFC West and earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC, while Rank thinks the Rams will go 10-6, finish second in the division and play as the No. 5 seed. The two analysts had similar schedule predictions, too. Both picked the Rams to lose to the Eagles, Ravens and Jaguars before the bye week, as well as the Seahawks in 16, but also predicted L.A. would go 8-2 over the final 10 games of the season. The "toughest game to call" for the duo was Week 15 against Lions, although both predicted a win for L.A. The Rams could absolutely get revenge for their 2024 playoff loss to the Eagles in Week 3 and/or surprise Baltimore three weeks later, but it was hard to pick against the home squads in both of those matchups. That same calculation is why I ultimately took the Rams in L.A. over the Lions. But, honestly, hearing "JA-RED GOFF" chants after a Detroit win at SoFi is a totally plausible outcome. After an inauspicious start, the Rams put questions about Matthew Stafford's back to rest (if he's not right, don't expect this prediction to be, either) and accomplish something they've yet to do in the Sean McVay era: sweep November. Since 2017, L.A. has posted the 24th-best win percentage (.429) during the month — twice going winless and never going undefeated. Their 5-0 mark in November— part of a win streak that extends through mid-December — propels the Rams to the NFC West title. This would certainly be a great outcome for the Rams in a pivotal year for the franchise. Stafford will be 38 by season's end the Rams need to capitalize on his ability before he rides off into the sunset. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL analysts give positive prediction for Rams' 2025 season
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
49ers sign Michael Dunn, Malik Knowles and release Demone Harris, Corey Kiner
With just days until their final preseason game, the San Francisco 49ers are trying to put together the best roster that they can before they have to trim the group down from 90 players to 53. With so many injuries, San Francisco's roster has been in constant flux, and that trend continued on Wednesday when they signed offensive lineman Michael Dunn and Malik Knowles. Dunn, 30, played collegiately at Maryland from 2012-16 before signing with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Since then, he's had stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Birmingham Iron (AAF) and Seattle Dragons (XFL). Over the last five seasons with Cleveland, he's appeared in 53 games and started nine. Knowles, 25, earned All-Big 12 honors twice (2021-22) at Kansas State during his five-year collegiate career before signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He spent 2024 with the Green Bay Packers and had a stint with the 49ers earlier this offseason. To make room for the two additions, the 49ers release veteran defensive end Demone Harris and waived/injured rookie running back Corey Kiner. Harris, 29, joined the 49ers last week after stops with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs (where he won a Super Bowl), Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. His depature leaves San Francisco with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Yetur Gross-Matos, Bryce Huff, Robert Beal, Sam Okuayinonu, Jonathan Garvin, Trevis Gipson, William Bradley-King and Jaylon Allen on the edge. Kiner, 23, played collegiately at LSU in 2021 before transferring to Cincinnati for his final three seasons. Between the two schools, he rushed for 2,882 yards and 16 touchdowns on 5.2 yards per attempt and caught 32 passes for 172 yards. After signing with San Francisco as an undrafted free agent, he went down with an injury in the team's preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He's now subject to waivers, and if he clears, he'll revert to the team's injured reserve. Without him, the 49ers running back room includes Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo, Jordan James, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Jeff Wilson. More 49ers: Hard-hitting safety on the trade block could be perfect fit for 49ers
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Rams Linked to Top Big 12 QB as Matthew Stafford Insurance
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Rams kicked off their 2025 training camp in a position no NFL team likes to find itself in: not having a healthy starting quarterback. Matthew Stafford has had his share of injuries over his 16-year NFL career (he's had 12 different injuries that have forced him to miss nine games since being acquired by L.A. in 2021), and given he turned 37 earlier this year, the Rams were presumably a bit panicked when he missed the first two weeks of camp and the team's first two preseason games with a lingering back injury. Stafford returned to practice earlier this week, and head coach Sean McVay explained to reporters the team was being cautious in the way it eased the Pro Bowl QB back into the fold. "The reality is we're trying to get our hands on this and get him to feel as good as possible," McVay said after practice on Tuesday. "Backs can be a volatile thing. ... But it certainly is trending in a positive direction for us." More NFL: Colts Predicted to Hit Reset Button on QB in 2026 NFL Draft Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams prepares for the snap during the first half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in... Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams prepares for the snap during the first half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MoreStafford agreed to a reworked contract back in May that gives him much more guaranteed money for 2025 and allows the Rams to decide whether or not to renew on a year-by-year basis. Given his age and track record with injuries, some believe the Rams could look to find Stafford's successor sooner rather than later. More NFL: Adam Schefter Drops Major Hint on Shedeur Sanders' Browns Future ESPN's Field Yates is one of them, and he believes L.A. will use one of its two first-round picks in the 2026 draft to take Arizona State star QB Sam Leavitt to groom to take over for Stafford eventually. "The Rams can capitalize on a bonus first-round pick after Atlanta traded up for James Pearce Jr. in the 2025 draft," Yates wrote. "It's not clear whether Matthew Stafford will be playing in 2026, but the Rams can add his heir apparent at the draft either way. Leavitt is an innovator, showing exceptional poise, moxie and creativity under duress. Quarterback Sam Leavitt #10 of the Arizona State Sun Devils scrambles and avoids a tackle for positive yards during the second half of the 2025 Peach Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinals football game featuring the... Quarterback Sam Leavitt #10 of the Arizona State Sun Devils scrambles and avoids a tackle for positive yards during the second half of the 2025 Peach Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinals football game featuring the University of Texas Longhorns versus the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. More"The redshirt sophomore is a talented thrower and very strong runner. He had at least three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in five of his final seven matchups last season, and he finished with 443 rushing yards on the year. L.A. can start thinking about the future under center with this top-10 pick via Atlanta." Leavitt, a redshirt sophomore, showed plenty of promise in his first year as the Sun Devils' starter. The 20-year-old QB threw for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he rushed for another 443 yards and five touchdowns. More NFL: 49ers Could Face NFL Punishment Over Brandon Aiyuk Decision During a recent episode of ESPN's "First Draft," Yates compared Leavitt to Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who had quite the impressive rookie season in 2024 (3,775 yards passing, 29 touchdowns, 430 yards rushing, four rushing touchdowns.) "Little bit of Bo Nix to him when it comes to the razzle-dazzle ability," Yates said. "Not as sudden as Bo was. ... But I really thought there was something to the toughness, the intangibles of Sam Leavitt — good arm, good size, good mobility." More NFL: Insider Believes Blockbuster Trade Could Be in the Works for the Patriots
