This time last year, the Los Angeles Rams were preparing for the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints. They missed the playoffs this season and will be watching championship weekend from home, but a handful of former Rams will be on the field Sunday.
Four, in particular, stand out, one from each team playing this weekend. They’re going to have a big impact on the outcome of Titans-Chiefs and Packers-49ers, with at least two former Rams participating in the Super Bowl two weeks from now.
Here are three players and one coach with ties to the Rams this weekend.
Titans LG Rodger Saffold
Saffold left the Rams to sign with the Titans last offseason in free agency, and he hasn’t missed a beat as a road-grading guard. He’s helped pave the way for Derrick Henry, who led the league in rushing and has helped get the Titans to the AFC Championship Game.
Saffold’s contract with Tennessee was for four years and $44 million, pricing himself out of the Rams’ range. He spent nine years with the Rams and was drafted by them in the second round of the 2010 draft.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur
LaFleur was Sean McVay’s offensive coordinator for one season in 2017 before he was hired by the Titans to be their OC in 2018. He helped the Rams lead the NFL in points and finish 10th in yards during his year in Los Angeles, proving to be a valuable member of McVay’s coaching staff.
Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins
Watkins was one of the Rams’ first blockbuster acquisitions when they traded for him just before the 2017 season. He had a disappointing season that year, though, catching only 39 passes for 593 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. He went on to sign with the Chiefs the following offseason, but he has yet to play a full 16-game season and only has 1,192 yards the last two years.
49ers RG Mike Person
Person started 14 games for the 49ers this season and was their right guard against the Vikings in the divisional round. He’s finally found a home in San Francisco after bouncing around the NFL and just had his best season in 2019. Though he never played a game for the Rams, he was with them from 2013-2014 before signing with the Falcons in 2015.