Todd Gurley will be wearing a different NFL uniform for the first time ever next season after the Los Angeles Rams released him on Thursday. He quickly agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Falcons one day later, beginning a fresh start for the three-time Pro Bowler.
But how did we get to this point? After all, it’s been less than two years since the Rams signed him to a four-year, $57.5 million extension, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL. That deal came two years before Gurley was set to become a free agent, but Los Angeles wanted to reward its running back after an All-Pro season in 2017.
All signs pointed toward Gurley wearing horns for the foreseeable future, likely deep into their stay at the new SoFi Stadium. But, Gurley will (probably) never wear the team’s redesigned uniforms or run out of the tunnel at SoFi Stadium as a member of the Rams.
The timeline of Gurley’s downfall is one littered with reports, speculative comments from Sean McVay and Les Snead, and questionable usage of the running back in the 2019 season. Let’s run through the sequence of events that led to Gurley’s release, beginning with the first indication that his knee was an issue.
- Dec. 2018: Gurley misses final two games of 2018 season with knee inflammation
- Dec. 2018: Rams sign C.J. Anderson
- Jan-Feb. 2019: Limited to 30 carries in playoffs, only 10 in Super Bowl
After the 2019 season, there were fans and media members wondering exactly what happened with Gurley and how big of an issue his knee injury was in the playoffs.
- Feb. 2019: Rams discuss plan to keep Gurley fresh at combine
- March 2019: Arthritis is reported in Gurley’s knee
- March 2019: McVay acknowledges “wear and tear” on Gurley but won’t admit he has arthritis
- April 2019: Rams draft RB Darrell Henderson
The clearest sign of the Rams’ lack of commitment to Gurley came when they traded up to select Henderson in the third round of the draft. The Rams characterized it as a move to complement Gurley, but in hindsight, it seems like they viewed Henderson as a potential replacement down the line.
This came after it was reported that Gurley has arthritis in his surgically repaired knee, which raised some red flags.
- May 2019: Gurley absent from voluntary OTAs
- June 2019: Report suggests Gurley won’t be “every-down bell cow”
- June 2019: Gurley attends but doesn’t participate in minicamp
- June 2019: Gurley calls knee injury “small” compared to ACL
- June 2019: Trainer says there’s “arthritic component” to Gurley’s knee
- July 2019: McVay declares Gurley “ready to go”
- Aug. 2019: Gurley sits out preseason with other starters
- Sept. 2019: Gurley not named team captain
Captains are voted on by players, and it was a surprise to see Gurley from being a captain in 2016, 2017 and 2018, but not being voted one last season. It caused some to believe there might be a rift after a difficult offseason.
- Sept. 2019: Gurley splits carries with Malcolm Brown in Week 1
- Sept. 2019: Gurley gets 5 carries vs. Buccaneers
- Oct. 2019: Gurley suffers thigh bruise vs. Seahawks
- Oct. 2019: Rams run it 7 straight times vs. 49ers with Gurley out
McVay seemed to send a message by opening the game with seven straight rush attempts while Gurley was sidelined due to injury.
- Oct. 2019: Gurley returns vs. Falcons, gets season-high 18 carries
- Nov. 2019: Gurley gets zero touches in 4th quarter of loss to Steelers
- Dec. 2019: McVay calls himself “an idiot” for not using Gurley more
After facing countless questions about not using Gurley more, McVay admitted he was “an idiot” for not giving him more carries beforehand. Gurley’s usage was still mixed after these comments, though.
- Dec. 2019: Les Snead admits Gurley wasn’t the same RB in 2019
- Feb. 2020: McVay confirms meeting with Gurley, says team is “working through” a plan for him
- Feb. 2020: Rams meet with RBs at combine
- March 2020: Gurley says “anything can happen,” not eager to meet with McVay
Gurley was asked if he felt a meeting with McVay was necessary, but he didn’t seem eager to talk to the coach, saying “coach got my number.” He also acknowledged that the NFL is a business and “anything can happen.”
- March 2020: Gurley unfollows Rams on Instagram, Twitter
- March 16, 2020: Report says Rams are shopping Gurley on trade market
- March 19, 2020: Gurley is released by Rams
- March 20, 2020: Gurley signs with Falcons
Gurley’s tenure with the Rams was one filled with accolades, highlight-reel plays and touchdown celebrations. But over the course of the last 16 months, there was a lot of speculation, frustration and “coachspeak” from McVay and Snead.
It led to him being cut this week, ending his time as one of the best players to ever suit up for the Rams.