Skip to playerSkip to main content
AJ McKenzie
  • 10 hours ago
3 redemption stories
IG: aj_mckenzie416
Twitter: AJMckenzie94847
Transcript
01:15You build that belief as you go, in my opinion.
01:18That's through good times and great plays and touchdowns and interceptions and losses and injuries and all that.
01:24I'm going to get my crown.
01:27I believe, I believe, I believe.
01:30We'll find ourselves.
01:32We've got to make ourselves do.
01:34Keep lifting forward.
01:35It's tipped.
01:36It's intercepted.
01:37Believe it and you'll be world champs.
01:41I believe it.
01:48The Rams' Disney-like story began when their new knight in shining armor arrived prior to the 2021 season.
01:57Wow, this is beautiful.
01:59Can we have you in here for now?
02:00Love that.
02:02Oh, yeah.
02:02A little corner spot.
02:04I'm all in.
02:05I love that.
02:07You're sitting here thinking, you're giving up all this for Matthew Stafford?
02:10Yes, you are.
02:11Oh, wow.
02:13Oh, my God.
02:14He's coming to Los Angeles, and he's bringing that arm.
02:17He can sling this pill.
02:18Unreal.
02:21Hopefully a lot of those, huh?
02:23Matthew Stafford wasted little time assuming his starring role, throwing a touchdown pass on his third play from scrimmage.
02:31Dan Jefferson, he gets up, he gets in.
02:34Welcome to L.A., Matthew Stafford.
02:38His L.A. debut was a sign of what was to come, and a reminder of what he had done
02:43in Detroit for a dozen years.
02:48Where Stafford became synonymous with toughness.
02:54Stafford will come back in the game.
02:55He's got a stuff that endears you to a city.
02:58Hey, I can throw the ball.
02:59Can you give me a throw the ball?
03:00It's not so much about me as it is about the guys I'm playing with.
03:04Touchdown, Detroit Lions!
03:05What they're going through on a down-in and down-out basis, it's extremely demanding on them physically.
03:12And if I've got to take a hit here or there and get back up and keep playing.
03:22Touchdown, L.A.!
03:24It was the beginning of one of the most successful quarterback-receiver relationships in league history.
03:31His understanding of the game at the receiver position is second to none, maybe all the time, to be honest
03:36with you.
03:36When a guy's open and in the right spot at the right time, makes the catch, and then runs with
03:41it afterwards, he's pretty easy to throw to.
03:46You really saw it fast.
03:49How much that bond of their relationship...
03:51It's come again!
03:52...was going to make a difference early and often in our season.
03:57Cooper is rare, like a true coach, and how he loves cut-ups and likes to break the game down.
04:02Yeah, they just had a little three-deep fire zone, brought the nickel off the edge, safety dropped down.
04:06It didn't look like they were doing a replacement fire zone, so I knew at the back away we were
04:10going to get three pushing through.
04:11I had an opportunity to kind of run in there if I could beat my guy and just had to
04:14beat the safety to the end zone.
04:16And I remember coming in one morning, and I seen him in there early, and I thought I got there
04:20pretty early just to break down.
04:21I'll break down an hour of film by myself.
04:23If it was 6 o'clock, 7 o'clock in the morning, they was there together breaking down film together.
04:27Every morning.
04:31...fying for five touchdowns in the Rams' first three games.
04:36And Cup became just the second player to have more than 1,900 yards receiving in a season.
04:42The other? A guy who also caught passes from Matthew Stafford.
04:47In fact, Calvin Johnson is the reason Stafford started throwing no-look passes.
04:53Everybody in the building knows where I want to throw the ball, and I've got to try to act like
04:57I don't want to throw it there,
04:59because I know I want to throw it there, too.
05:00How am I going to maneuver these guys around so that I can get the ball to the big fella?
05:06Stafford became so proficient at the no-look in 2021 that he could fool his offensive coordinator.
05:13The no-look has got me again.
05:15And in week six, he threw a touchdown to Cup without looking at him.
05:20Wait until you see the replay with Matthew Stafford.
05:22That was a no-look pass again.
05:23He's looking right, throws left.
05:26That's a nasty play.
05:28But Cup was far from the only Ram in sync with Stafford.
05:37We love this game.
05:38We share a passion for the game.
05:40He's as involved of a head coach as I've ever been around.
05:45Got me on that, Matthew?
05:46As smart of a guy schematically and in dealing with the personalities of a team,
05:51he's the best one I've ever been around.
05:53There's no question about that.
05:55But I also think we balance each other out.
05:57I'm a pretty laid-back guy, and he's got a ton of energy all the time and is go, go,
06:03go.
06:03Hurry up, Matthew!
06:05Let's go!
06:05It's a great balance.
06:07This is a great job, man.
06:09Good step up.
06:10Nice job seeing the field.
06:11You can't do anything differently.
06:13Yeah.
06:13He knows how to kind of push my buttons, and I know how to settle him down, you know, all
06:17at the same time.
06:18You got me on this, buddy?
06:21You just ignore me.
06:23Nobody talks to me anymore.
06:24All right, good.
06:25That's all I need.
06:26An enthusiastic thumbs up, man.
06:28That's the spirit.
06:31It definitely happened, you know, quickly, us two gelling.
06:36In week seven, Stafford and his new coach faced his old team.
06:41How long have you been in the league?
06:42This is 13.
06:44Huh?
06:4413 for me right now.
06:45You look like you're 20.
06:46I look like I'm 20?
06:47I'll take that all day.
06:49I feel like I'm 50.
06:50Shot!
06:53Jefferson the target, leaping in the end zone.
06:55He brings it in!
06:58Touchdown, LA!
07:00What is it?
07:01Stafford has it.
07:03Cooper Cupp the catch, into the end zone!
07:05The 300 scoring toss of his career goes to Cooper Cupp.
07:11What happened to that football?
07:12I got it.
07:13It wasn't easy, right?
07:15No.
07:16Oh, yeah.
07:17What did Cooper do with that?
07:18Cooper flips it to the ref.
07:21Classic Cooper.
07:22I'm trying to find it.
07:24Pretty cool.
07:24Cross the ball to the ref.
07:25I know, you're a d***, but that's all right.
07:27No idea.
07:29Cross the ball to the ref.
07:31Hey!
07:32Yeah, yeah, yeah.
07:35Yeah.
07:36Yeah.
07:38Yeah.
07:38Yeah.
07:39Yeah.
07:40Yeah.
07:40Yeah.
07:41Yeah.
07:48I get in my own little zone.
07:49You know, I kind of, like, block everything out around me.
07:52I'm in my own world.
07:53I love it.
07:53I love it.
07:53I love it.
07:54I'm talking to myself.
07:55Have fun, baby.
07:55Just have fun.
07:56That's all you got to do, eh?
07:57Don't do too much.
07:58Don't do too much.
07:58Just do what you do.
08:00Control aggression.
08:00Control aggression.
08:01Play smart.
08:02Play smart.
08:03A lot of things that I taught to myself is things that my dad used to tell me as a
08:06kid playing football.
08:07Try to be great.
08:08Let's be great.
08:08It's hard work pay off.
08:10Big time players make big time plays in big time games.
08:12Play would prove to be true in 2021.
08:15Much more on that later.
08:17But the three-time defensive player of the year has been making big time plays since the Rams drafted him
08:2413th overall in 2014.
08:28And perhaps no one in NFL history has been double teamed more than Aaron Donald.
08:40No, don't help him.
08:41You better not help him.
08:43Please ask him.
08:44You better not ask him to help him.
08:45Be a man.
08:47This is frustrating.
08:48You know, I feel like we all get paid a lot of money to play this game.
08:51We should have a lot more one-on-ones.
08:52They should be able to do their job.
08:53But, yeah, come with it.
08:56Despite the extra attention, Donald achieved another milestone in 2021.
09:02The new all-time leading sacker for the Rams in team history.
09:06Come on, man.
09:07This guy is f***ing on.
09:09All right, do that, man.
09:14The work that he puts in.
09:16All-time leading sacker for the Rams in team history.
09:20Come on, man.
09:20This guy.
09:21No, he is very much not.
09:24No, he's not.
09:29Unless nothing before 1982 counted, which that's not how the NFL works.
09:35111 sacks.
09:38Jack Youngblood had 150-something.
09:41Deacon Jones had 170-something.
09:56The work that he puts in.
09:58It's not by chance that he's the best player in the NFL on defense.
10:02You know, I had to play against it.
10:03Now I get to see it up close and personal.
10:05It's as impressive as any, you know, athlete I've ever been around.
10:08When you talk about football, if you're a scout, you talk about a guy's measurables.
10:12How fast are they?
10:13How strong are they?
10:14What's their get-off?
10:15Well, Aaron Donald would be every scout's dream.
10:17Let's go!
10:18Woo!
10:19And then you walk over to the head coach and you say, who's a guy who's a great teammate?
10:27And that's an example every single day for you.
10:29And he'd be every head coach's dream as well.
10:32Aaron Donald's even really good in a walkthrough.
10:34You match that with a guy who has a desire and a passion to chase the game of football to
10:38be great.
10:39Let's be a champion.
10:40Let's be a champion.
10:41Let's be a champion.
10:42That's why there's no mistake of why he is the best defensive player that's ever played the game of football,
10:47in my opinion.
10:48You know, I feel like I accomplished everything in the NFL that I wanted to accomplish as a defensive player.
10:52Only thing I was lacking was being a world champion.
10:55That's the only thing that was pushing me and grinding me to be like, you know, I got to see
10:59what that felt like.
11:00You know, I heard so many stories about, you know, the confetti falling on you, the whole experience.
11:04You know, I just wanted to live it out.
11:08In the middle of the 2021 season, the Rams all-time sack leader learned that his team was interested in
11:19making the Broncos all-time sack leader his teammate.
11:25If it's this reality, we could probably get Vaughn Miller.
11:28He looked at me, you think I can help you?
11:29I said, hell yeah, that can help me.
11:31What would you mean?
11:32Please bring him here.
11:33Yes, Vaughn Miller headed to the Rams, a deal with the Broncos in which the Rams gave up more draft
11:39picks.
11:40Now they give up their second and third round picks for this upcoming draft.
11:43This Rams team, they want to win now, right?
11:45They don't care about those draft picks or trading away.
11:47Well, first of all, if you're not trying to win, I don't know what you're doing.
11:51You know, I think everybody's philosophy should be, let's win now.
11:57Once I see that come full circle, he came here, man, I was pumped up.
12:00You know, I just knew the talent we already had and then adding pieces like, you know, Yvonne Miller or
12:05Odell Beckham.
12:06The wait is over, though. Odell Beckham is headed to the Rams.
12:09He's joining a team made of stars that has now doubled down, doubled down, and doubled down again on this
12:13season.
12:14It just brings me to all the pressure on Matthew Stafford's shoulders now.
12:18Does it add a little bit more pressure?
12:20You know we got so bad.
12:21Yeah, no doubt.
12:21You feel me?
12:22I'm with you, eh?
12:22Probably the outside world just talks about you a little bit more and says, oh, look what they're doing.
12:26They're going all in.
12:29Ironically, the team with the win now mantra didn't win a game in November.
12:36Vaughn Miller didn't dress for his first game in L.A., and he saw the Titans' pressure get to Stafford.
12:44Dragged down and throws an interception, and an absolute give to the Tennessee Titans.
12:50Perfectly played for the defense.
12:52That was perfectly played.
12:54This was the year that the Titans had a weird number one seed and then got bounced in the first
12:59round or something.
13:03The snap has the throw.
13:04Right side picked off again at the 25.
13:07Returned on the left sideline for a touchdown.
13:10Kevin Byard.
13:12There was nothing to smile about in Odell Beckham Jr.'s debut as a Ram the next week.
13:17Right side is juggled.
13:19It is intercepted.
13:20Taken away by Jimmy Ward, and he gets into the end zone for a pick six.
13:25All right, this is getting to be a habit.
13:27And in Green Bay, Stafford made it three games in a row with a pick six as the Rams fell
13:34to seven and four.
13:36Intercepted.
13:37Stepping in front of Cooper Cuff.
13:38It's Rasulah Douglas.
13:39Touchdown, Green Bay Packers.
13:41With all their new additions, the Rams were piling up losses.
13:46Your margin for error when you play Tennessee, when you play San Fran, when you play Green Bay is small.
13:51And we were having big errors.
13:54Myself, probably first and foremost.
13:56Honestly, it's probably...
13:57Did you play Tennessee really there a threat?
14:01I don't think so.
14:02I believe what got us to where we ended up going.
14:05I think in some ways when you get to have the start we did and you add the players that
14:10we did, there's a little bit of a mentality of, okay, it's just going to happen for you.
14:15And you lose a little bit of like, all right, no, no, no, no, no, we got to go out
14:18and win every game and play at the level we're capable of regardless of who's on our football team.
14:23And we needed a little bit of a reset.
14:26All right, let's go, man.
14:28Back on track today.
14:32Aaron Donald got hands on the running back, popped it out, and Jalen Ramsey takes over on possession for L
14:38.A.
14:41Throws the middle, caught by Cooper Cup.
14:4220, 10, cross to the field.
14:44Touchdown, Cooper Cup.
14:46Touchdown, L.A.
14:48Stafford stands up, throws the fade, right side.
14:50OBJ goes up and brings it in.
14:58Good job, man.
15:00Great job, man.
15:00Good job.
15:05He did something no one had ever done.
15:09Andrew Whitworth is making history tonight.
15:12The first player to start a game at left tackle at the age of 40.
15:19Play fits.
15:20Boots out to his left.
15:21Looking deep.
15:21He's got Van Jefferson.
15:22And Van brings it in at the goal line.
15:26What a rocket shot from Matthew Stafford.
15:30The clock at 8.
15:30It's 7.
15:31It's 6.
15:32There's the shotgun snap to Murray.
15:34On the last play of the game, Aaron Donald delivered Whitworth a belated birthday present.
15:39Now here comes Donald.
15:41He does get him.
15:42And that's it.
15:44That's it.
15:45The Rams have won.
15:46It's a three-sack performance for Aaron Donald.
15:52It was a huge victory and a huge night for me.
15:55Great win on Monday night.
15:57Moving forward.
15:57Let's go, Whit.
15:58Oh, let's go.
15:59It's the end of December, baby.
16:01Yeah, boy.
16:02Really, to me, that night was less about the accomplishment and more about the journey.
16:06All the struggles, all the things overcame to get there.
16:10Whitworth's journey began in Cincinnati.
16:13They want to line up on you.
16:14They might as well kiss the baby.
16:16Okay, there you go.
16:17There you go.
16:18There you go.
16:18He spent 11 years there.
16:21Never won a playoff game.
16:23And in 2017, when he and his wife headed to L.A. to join a team with a 31-year
16:28-old head coach and a new stadium being built,
16:31he never thought he'd become a world champion.
16:34I remember looking at Melissa, I said, listen, this is going to be about you and I doing what we
16:39love to do,
16:40and that's trying to help establish a culture, you know, in a new place, that culture of winning.
16:45But our chances of winning a Super Bowl, our chances of, you know, going to a bunch of title games
16:50in the playoffs have probably gone away.
16:52Now, if he comes inside, when I hit this foot, it's boom.
16:56Whitworth helped change the culture quicker than he imagined.
16:59There's a reason why Andrew Whitworth is going into his 40th year in the NFL.
17:04This guy's got great standards.
17:05In his second season with the Rams, they went to the Super Bowl, but the confetti fell for the other
17:12team.
17:13Honor, bro.
17:13Hey, man, you're a beast.
17:14You guys are going to be good for a long time.
17:17Appreciate it, brother.
17:17Guys like you, it's an honor to work in this league.
17:19You too, brother.
17:20Guys like you.
17:20Thank you, brother.
17:21You too, brother.
17:29Wilson and Dwayne Brown and some guys from the Seahawks running over to kind of say what's up to me
17:35and wish me the best.
17:36You can tell how much he's admired and respected all across this league.
17:40You know, each year we've kind of thought that maybe this will be it, and he keeps coming back and
17:43keeps playing at a high level.
17:47Father time is undefeated.
17:49Oh, my God.
17:50But with four games left in the 2021 regular season, there was still time for Whitworth to make one more
17:57run at a championship.
18:00Let's do it, baby.
18:24The Rams, they are atop the NSU Astor with two weeks to play.
18:29In Baltimore, the newcomers paid big dividends.
18:34Von Miller had his first two-sack game as a Ram.
18:3819-14 Ravens.
18:41Can Matthew Stafford do it in crunch time?
18:43Rolls right.
18:44Hitches.
18:44Throws.
18:45Off front pylon.
18:47Touchdown.
18:48Odell Beckham Jr.
18:49gives the Rams their first lead with 57 seconds remaining.
18:54OBJ's fifth touchdown in seven games gave the Rams a big win.
19:00We bring this circle tight.
19:01Yeah, I'd like to point out that that was against Tyler Huntley because Lamar was hurt.
19:05They'd never beaten Lamar Jackson.
19:08So, I'd just like to point that out.
19:10And he still barely won the game against a backup.
19:14They're all game long.
19:15And we're here to fight, man.
19:17Let's go.
19:17In the season finale, L.A. looked to end a five-game losing streak to the 49ers.
19:24Touchdown, Tyler Higbee.
19:27The Rams raced to a 17-0 lead, but saw their nemesis beat them yet again.
19:33Devo to the end zone.
19:35Caught.
19:36Touchdown, San Francisco.
19:38This time in overtime.
19:40They sweep the Rams for the third year in a row.
19:43Despite the loss, Los Angeles won the NFC West.
19:48Niners win N.O.T. in L.A.
19:50They get six straight against the Rams.
19:52Six straight.
19:53Holy cow.
19:54Man, I hate the Niners with a passion.
19:57Like, I.
19:57The NFC West is a bloodbath between the top three teams.
20:02A bloodbath.
20:03And, uh, Rams got their revenge.
20:07I hate them.
20:08And then when you keep losing, it's like, I know we get, I feel like we're a better team.
20:12I don't understand.
20:12They just had our numbers.
20:13So, for me, I was mad.
20:15I was pissed.
20:17It was tough emotionally.
20:18We did just win the West.
20:19Okay, that's great.
20:20But we lost the game.
20:21We felt like we should have won.
20:22I'm not sure there's a team out there that probably was as disappointed in winning the division as we were.
20:28I remember they was passing T-shirts in the locker room after we lost to them.
20:32I said, I don't want that.
20:33You know, I felt like we didn't earn that.
20:35I remember just slamming my helmet down, being mad, because, you know, you hate losing, but then it's to the
20:4049ers.
20:42I don't want to go to the Super Bowl if we don't get to play them again.
20:44That's all I wanted.
20:45I promise you.
20:50Other than seeing Andrew Whitworth injure his ankle on the first play from scrimmage,
20:54not much went wrong for Matthew Stafford in his first postseason win in four tries.
21:01Touchdown, OBJ!
21:04Here comes the blitz.
21:06Goop!
21:07Goop!
21:08Cooper top!
21:09Makes the catch with a touchdown!
21:10And the Rams are blowing it open!
21:14But the Rams didn't acquire Stafford to win just one playoff game.
21:21In the divisional round against the defending champions, the Rams did everything they had done all year.
21:29No-look passes.
21:31Boots out to the left.
21:33Looking short.
21:34Caught at the five.
21:35And into the end zone.
21:36It's Kendall Blanton!
21:38Getting the ball to Cooper Cupps.
21:40Big throw.
21:41Down the right side.
21:42Cooper Cupps on the line.
21:43He caught it at the 30.
21:45To the 20.
21:46Touch inside.
21:4610.
21:475.
21:48Touchdown, Cooper Cupps!
21:50And unleashing Aaron Donald and company.
21:56In the third quarter, Los Angeles had a 27-3 lead.
22:01So Tom Brady had the Rams right where he wanted them.
22:08He wasn't ready for the snap.
22:09It spilled out to midfield.
22:11A race to the football.
22:12The Buccaneers get to it first.
22:14Four fumbles by Los Angeles fueled the Bucs' comeback.
22:18Brady from the pocket.
22:19One score.
22:20Launches deep down the right side.
22:22Looking for Mike Evans.
22:23He's got it at the 10.
22:24And it's a one-score game.
22:26Do you believe what just happened?
22:28No!
22:29Tom Brady does it again!
22:33With 42 seconds to play, Tampa Bay tied the score.
22:40I was shocked.
22:41I was on the sideline looking around like, what the hell's going on?
22:45I couldn't believe it, you know?
22:46But one thing we kept saying, man, ain't no way we're going to lose this.
22:50Ain't no way we're going to let this team come back and win this game.
22:53Hey!
22:54Keep going with us!
22:55Keep going with us!
22:57Keep going with us!
22:58This moment right here.
23:01Let's talk about Sean McVay is so young.
23:03He's younger than Andrew Weir with her.
23:05He's younger than some of his players.
23:09This was why the Rams brought Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles.
23:14Game on the line.
23:16Time for one drive.
23:18It's something that I love.
23:21All I want is the ball in my hand.
23:23Deep down the right side.
23:24He's got Cuff.
23:25Running down the hash marks.
23:27He reels it in at the 15!
23:29He stood in the pocket.
23:30Took a big hit.
23:34The route that Cooper's running there, we describe it a lot of times in our meetings as a love
23:38of the game route.
23:39You know, you're really never getting the ball.
23:41You're just clearing out some area.
23:43The only reason he's running that route is because he loves football and he loves his teammates,
23:47but you've got to be aware enough that, hey, every once in a blue moon that perfect coverage
23:51happens, and it happened to happen on that play.
23:54So they go with the slot blitz, which means your safety has to cover Cooper Cuff one-on-one
24:01down the field, and Stafford finds him.
24:06In my head, just kind of quickly clicking through, all right, what's my best cover zero answer here,
24:12and it's Cooper just right down the middle on a safety.
24:17Four seconds remaining.
24:21Matt Gay hits it with the right foot.
24:24It is good!
24:25It is good!
24:28Los Angeles will host the NFC Championship game!
24:33The guy that just stepped up, time in and time out, made the play for you and to have it
24:38in first time, Matthew Stafford.
24:40Yeah!
24:47For us to get to the Super Bowl, they're going to have to hear your voice.
24:51Remember, I'm just saying, they're going to have to hear you.
24:52You're going to have to speak.
24:54Even if it's before practice, you want to bring the whole team up, but everybody, they
24:57got to hear your voice, and they're going to follow you, bro.
25:00I'm telling you.
25:00I remember he just keeps saying, they're going to follow you.
25:05Aaron Donald got what he wanted.
25:07To go to the Super Bowl, he and the Rams would have to beat the 49ers, and on this
25:13day, Donald's voice would be heard.
25:16It's personal, man!
25:18It's personal!
25:19You got to get mad!
25:23Stafford throws right to the end zone.
25:26Cooper Tuck!
25:28Touchdown, LA!
25:32The Rams struck first, but in the third quarter, the 49ers took a 17-7 lead.
25:38Kittle airborne, brings it in.
25:40Touchdown, San Francisco.
25:41Kittle had just caught a touchdown on us, and I remember A'shaun Robinson coming up to
25:45me like, man, we flat, man.
25:47We need you.
25:47We need you.
25:48You got to say something.
25:50And I'm mad.
25:50I'm like, I'm mad.
25:51I felt like we did too much to get to this point.
25:54We're not losing to this team again.
25:55We're not.
25:56It was just more about bowing up.
25:57We want game boys.
25:58Bow up.
25:59Bow up.
26:00We're playing for stuff, man.
26:01We're playing for stuff.
26:03I made sure I looked around at everybody's eyes when I was talking to them.
26:06They let them feel that everything I was saying was real.
26:08You look at my eyes, my eyes probably watered a little bit over there, because it was like,
26:11this means something, man.
26:12It got to mean something to you.
26:13Just got to mean something to you.
26:15Just got to mean something.
26:16I've been there, you got it.
26:17I've been there, you got it.
26:19When you're as special as Aaron Donald, and you set the tone each and every week with your
26:23play, guys are yearning to hear what you have to say.
26:26They want you to pour into them.
26:27And I think that Von Miller being around gave Aaron the confidence to believe that my voice
26:33should be heard.
26:34To get to what we need to get to, it's about leadership, and that's what I learned.
26:38Leadership and my voice is powerful.
26:43Donald and the defense shut out the 49ers the rest of the way.
26:48The question was whether the Rams' offense could make the comeback.
27:07Three and a half minutes to play in regulation.
27:11Two for a cut, makes the catch, breaking across the field.
27:28To give the Rams the lead, snap back, hold down.
27:32The kick is on the way, and it is right down the middle.
27:36For a 20-17 lead with 146 remain.
27:40Let's finish it, let's finish it, let's finish it.
27:43Move.
27:43This is the moment right here.
27:45Let's go.
27:46This is the moment.
27:47This is why you're here.
27:48I dream for moments like that.
27:49I visualize moments like that when I'm training, when I'm working, when I'm pushing myself just
27:54to be in that moment and to be there and live it out.
27:57Come on, man.
27:57I'm like, I'm destined for this.
27:59This is what you wanted.
28:01A spot in Super Bowl 56 on the line.
28:04Like I said, big-time players show up in big-time games.
28:07You know, my dad told me that all my life.
28:09Indeed they do.
28:11And in this game, Aaron Donald, the man who finally found his voice, got the last word.
28:19Snap back to Garofalo.
28:20Pocket rumbling.
28:21He spins out.
28:22He's hit.
28:23He's dropped out.
28:24He flips it forward.
28:25It's tipped.
28:26It's intercepted.
28:27It's intercepted.
28:29I want to play the Niners.
28:31We beat the Niners.
28:32It's like, ring me.
28:33Come on, man.
28:34I'm going to get this ring.
28:38I remember Jimmy G kind of like stuttered and tried to run away.
28:42And I remember grabbing him.
28:42I remember swinging at the ball, missing.
28:44I remember just throwing the ball up.
28:46And I remember just looking like, please, somebody just make something happen.
28:51The greatest defensive player on the planet comes through in the clutch.
28:57Aaron Donald, this moment was for you.
29:01It was one of the moments, like, you got to pitch your arms out.
29:03Like, we going to the Super Bowl.
29:05We going to the Super Bowl.
29:10Matthew Stafford, on the one-year anniversary of the Rams making the trade to get him, he
29:16has quarterbacked the Rams to the Super Bowl.
29:19And he was worth every penny.
29:21This is something you worked your whole life for.
29:24My staffer really turned his career around.
29:27Now he's a Hall of Famer.
29:28He went from just a stat pattern to a Hall of Famer.
29:32At points in my career, I thought it may never happen, never get the opportunity to go.
29:38It was pretty special.
29:40Oh, man.
29:46Got a little more work to do.
29:48I love you, bro.
29:48I told you, my boy.
29:49I love you, bro.
29:50I told you, my boy.
29:51One more.
29:51We got one more game.
29:53We got one more game.
29:54We got one more.
29:54Back in the Super Bowl, and I promise you, we ain't losing this one.
29:58There ain't no way I'm going to the Super Bowl and losing another one.
30:03Coming up.
30:04All right, it's time, man.
30:04Let's go.
30:08Well, you need a great ending.
30:10The Rams were one win away from that.
30:13And you better have a star-studded cast.
30:17If we were to do a Disney movie, we would play Andrew Whitworth.
30:20Oh, man.
30:21I think, you know, if we're looking at the Disney movie, I think that, you know, for me, my favorite
30:26guy is The Rock.
30:27So I think I would love for The Rock to be Big Whit.
30:30Shoot.
30:31Who would play me?
30:33I don't know.
30:35Well, with your acting chops in the AT&T commercial, maybe Matthew Stafford should play that.
30:39Yeah, maybe I just play myself.
30:41So you can take your old phone that you've had for 12 years and loved every minute of and trade
30:44it in for something new that suits your life now?
30:46That's right.
30:47Yeah.
30:47Then enjoy immediate success.
30:48Even though you'll never forget your old phone?
30:50Ever.
30:51It's a great trade.
30:53Life-changing.
30:54Who would play Aaron Donald?
30:56Who would play The Rock?
30:58See, I knew you were going to say Whit picked The Rock.
31:01You can't have The Rock.
31:02Uh, I picked The Rock.
31:07Finally, it is time for the Super Bowl!
31:14We talked about it all year, bro.
31:16We're a family.
31:17And as this game goes, we're going to get closer and closer in this circle, man.
31:20After 16 seasons in the NFL, Andrew Whitworth was willing to do just about anything to help his team win
31:27a Super Bowl.
31:28Let's go, baby.
31:29Let's go.
31:31Why couldn't he spit on his own glove?
31:33Why is he asking you to spit on his glove?
31:34I don't know.
31:35I'm guessing that maybe he was dry-mouthed or something.
31:38I don't know what the problem was.
31:39But you know what?
31:40I'm an O-lineman.
31:40We spit, snot, sweat, bleed all over people all game long.
31:46He asked me to spit, I spit.
31:47That was pretty simple.
31:50Whit spit must have been a secret sauce for Odell Beckham Jr.
31:58Touchdown, OBJ!
32:01Watch the throw by Matthew Stafford.
32:03The guy who has really had to carry all the pressure of the expectations.
32:12I don't know why you didn't wear number 10.
32:14All you throw is done.
32:18Here's a play thing.
32:19A roll right.
32:20Goose!
32:21Super clutch!
32:22Yeah!
32:22Yeah!
32:23Great job seeing that!
32:25The Rams' performance in the Super Bowl resembled their path through the 2021 season.
32:31Great start, followed by trouble.
32:35OBJ goes down, favoring his left leg.
32:38No.
32:39Is that his knee?
32:41Oh, what a scary reaction that is from Odell Beckham Jr.
32:44They don't look good.
32:46Non-contact.
32:47I think it's for it.
32:49I knew.
32:50I was the guy throwing the ball.
32:52I had the best view on it.
32:52Oh, no!
32:53When he stayed down.
32:55I just had a bad feeling that that was it.
32:57And then seeing him out on the sideline after, you know, in street clothes and how much he cared
33:02was really cool for a guy that came in mid-season and just kind of dove right in with our
33:07team
33:07and was such a bright light.
33:09It was tough because Odell was playing so great.
33:11They were paying so much attention to what Cooper was doing.
33:14And Odell was absolutely feasting on that.
33:17It wouldn't be a game, bro.
33:19I was going to kill him.
33:20The rest of the game was going to change for us.
33:23It changed dramatically on the first two plays of the second half.
33:27T. Higgins sheds Jalen Ramsey.
33:3020, 10, 5.
33:32Touchdown, Cincinnati.
33:33It's bad.
33:34Everybody saw it.
33:35Everybody saw it.
33:36Play fake.
33:37Sets up to throw.
33:37Let's it go middle.
33:39It's hit.
33:39It's intercepted.
33:40Picked off at the 30.
33:46Let's win it.
33:46Come on.
33:47Like he did in the NFC Championship, Aaron Donald took over.
33:51Leading a defense that had six second half sacks.
33:55Aaron Donald gobbled him up.
33:57And didn't give up a point in the final 25 minutes.
34:00Yes!
34:02Let's go.
34:03Let's go.
34:03Don't let up.
34:04Don't let up.
34:05They scared.
34:11Pocket crumbling.
34:13Burrow.
34:13We'll have to eat it again.
34:15With just over six minutes to play, the Rams trail 20 to 16.
34:20Hey, guys.
34:21Let me just tell you something right now.
34:24Believe it and you'll be world champs.
34:26Let's go.
34:27Believe it.
34:27Lock in.
34:28Let's find it right here.
34:29Come on.
34:30Go get this done.
34:31Let's go.
34:32Come on, baby.
34:32Let's go.
34:33I believe it.
34:35Belief is what it takes to go for it on fourth down.
34:39The decision of Sean McVay's life right here.
34:42It's inches.
34:43This could be the game.
34:455-0-7 left and the Rams ready to go for it on fourth and one at their own 30.
34:51Cooper Cup in motion.
34:52Now sprints.
34:53It's a Jets.
34:56Super Cup keeping the Rams drive alive.
34:59Belief is also what it takes to throw a no-look pass with the Super Bowl on the line.
35:07He steps up and deals in the middle.
35:09Cooper Cup makes a catch at the Cincinnati 30.
35:11Spun down inside the 25.
35:14It's not like I caught the snap and were like, I'm not going to look on this play.
35:18I'm realizing that it's hook coverage.
35:20This is a tough coverage for this play.
35:22Vaughn Bell's playing with depth.
35:24I'm trying to get the ball in behind him.
35:25All right, what can I do to try and get him, you know, latched down to an underneath, you
35:31know, player?
35:32It happens organically and it's for a reason.
35:36A lot of hours, a lot of trust going into that.
35:42All that being said, you look back on it and go, what the hell was I thinking?
35:46Unbelievable.
35:47They've got Vaughn Bell lurking right in the middle of the field, right where that route
35:51was being run.
35:52I mean, this is Matthew Stafford, who is now just going to take over the game.
35:57I'm nervous as hell.
35:58I'm over there, eyes closed.
36:00Please, God, please, please.
36:01You praying.
36:03It's just a lot of emotion that goes through it.
36:05All right, Matthew, you ready for this?
36:06This is going to be your game winner right here, buddy.
36:09Second down and goal from the one.
36:11Tell Cooper to go to the outside location here, Matthew.
36:14Sean started going, okay, tell Cooper to go outside.
36:18I'm like, I already know what we're doing here.
36:20Like, I'm like, I'm right there with you.
36:23That's your FA there, okay, Coop?
36:24Hey, let's go, man.
36:25This is to win the Super Bowl.
36:26Let's go.
36:28Cooper Cupp and Ben Skoranek out to the right.
36:30Stafford from under center.
36:31Steps back.
36:32Throws the fade.
36:33Back shoulder.
36:37Cooper Cupp's got it.
36:38Yeah!
36:40Yeah!
36:41Touchdown, LA!
36:44Might be the best no-looker we got all year.
36:47What else could you want?
36:48What else could you want?
36:49Right now, let's go.
36:51Let's go.
36:52Hey, Aaron, this is the moment.
36:54Right now.
36:55Hey, championship drive right there.
36:57Battle with me.
36:58I love you, Aaron.
36:59I love you.
37:0243 seconds to go.
37:03It's going to be fourth in less than a yard.
37:05You're the World Championship right here.
37:11Aaron Donaldson's going to make a play.
37:15That's love.
37:16I think it comes down to him just trusting the guys he got out there.
37:18You know, trusting that we're going to find a way.
37:21I was going to find a way to make that happen.
37:23Let's go!
37:26Take me home!
37:28You weren't watching?
37:30I couldn't.
37:31No, I wasn't watching at all.
37:32I didn't even know it was fourth down, to be honest with you.
37:35I'm trying to beat this guy on the edge.
37:37Get to him as fast as I can.
37:39Everything I've seen in my head, everything I've played out, it happened.
37:43Rams rush four.
37:45Burrow to throw for it.
37:46He's hit.
37:46He's points of the way on fourth down.
37:48Aaron Donald got there.
37:50Yes!
37:52Yes!
37:53I knew it!
37:54I knew it!
37:55He would take this play!
37:56And you can build that man's statue out of South By's stadium right now.
38:02Rings for the Rams!
38:05I remember grabbing, I said, ain't no way in the world that I did this for a second time.
38:09We just did this against the 49ers.
38:11And I remember grabbing him and swinging him.
38:13But I remember him tossing the ball up and my heart dropping, like, please don't catch it.
38:17I remember incomplete.
38:18I remember just looking at the sidelines, just doing this.
38:21Running.
38:22Emotions took over from there.
38:24I'm like, this is it.
38:24This is the, I just made the play again to, like, this is the, to be world champions?
38:29I'm like, I was like, oh, this, this, this is crazy.
38:33Does that work out?
38:34We won, baby!
38:35We won!
38:37I can remember just my eyes being as wide open as possible.
38:41And I think it was Jake Gervas coming down and giving me a hug and saying, you just won a
38:45Super Bowl.
38:46You're a world champ, bro.
38:48You're a world champ, man.
39:01For me to be able to say that I became a world champion, that's something that you remember forever.
39:06You're about to have me cry on it. It get emotional because it means something to me.
39:11I really do. I really work so hard.
39:24Every time I watch the repeat of the Super Bowl, my eyes tear up. I still get the chills watching
39:28it.
39:28I'm just so happy. I wanted this so bad. I dreamed this, man. I dreamed this and it's surreal. Look
39:37at this.
39:39Being in that moment, it's nothing like it. The reality is so much better than the dream. It really is.
39:44I remember my daughter was five years old. Her first Super Bowl, I promised her that we'd be able to
39:49play in the conference.
39:49One day, and I fell short that year. I always promised. I said, we're going to get an opportunity to
39:54play in the confetti.
39:56World champs, baby!
39:57World champs, baby!
39:58I love you.
39:59I love you, dog.
40:00When I think about the Super Bowl, I think about a unique relationship with my son, Michael, where when we
40:06lost the first Super Bowl,
40:07I can remember making direct eye contact with him and my wife. He's bawling, crying, and she's holding him. And
40:15he was probably seven years old at this time.
40:17I hold up both my arms and flexed my muscles, and I'm like, just smile, buddy. I'm just standing at
40:21him, like, just smile.
40:25So he's boohooing, and he kind of, like, gets it enough together to, like, pull both his arms up.
40:29Yeah! Love you, buddy!
40:33I can remember how special that moment was. And the first thing I did after we kneeled the ball, look
40:38up where him, my wife, and the kids were sitting.
40:41And I, like, get in to look at me, and I flexed my muscles at him.
40:45Where you at, Michael Lee? Where you at, baby?
40:49I can remember sitting in that moment thinking, like, wow, three years ago, I'm as crushed as I could possibly
40:54be, but I'm just trying to, like, make him be okay and realize life's going to be okay, buddy.
40:58This is just a tiny little thing. If this is bad, we're going to be okay.
41:02And then to have that moment to do the same thing with him, but this time we're going to get
41:07to hold that trophy up.
41:08That's probably going to be the main memory that I'll take with me forever.
41:12We did it, baby. World champions. How cool is that?
41:1616 years. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you.
41:20That's pretty cool, huh? I love y'all. That was daddy's last football game. That's it. No more. I'm going
41:26to be home with you guys.
41:28Matthew Stafford never had a playoff victory a month ago. Now he's got a Lombardi trophy.
41:35We're going to Disneyland tomorrow.
41:38Yeah, maybe.
41:39They did want to know if we were going to Disney. That was something that Kelly had talked to him
41:44quite a bit about.
41:44I love you girls.
41:46You're Prince.
41:47Wow.
41:48We won Super Bowl.
41:48Yes.
41:49But that doesn't really matter. What matters is, I think we're going to Disneyland tomorrow.
41:54They were pretty fired up about that. That and the confetti. But at the same time, they helped me realize,
42:00man, this is supposed to be fun.
42:01Right? Life is supposed to be a joy ride and there's a lot of hard work that goes into it,
42:07but you've got to enjoy those great moments.
42:08You are sweating.
42:09I know. Because I played hard.
42:13You know, at least for me, until you get to that point, it's hard to comprehend the level of sacrifice
42:18that it takes to get something like that done.
42:20We had so many guys on our team that were deserving of having a Lombardi trophy attached to their careers.
42:26I love you, bro.
42:28I love you, bro.
42:29It's unbelievable. You were so great.
42:31Being able to get that done for those guys is something that I'll always love.