Before Lions star quarterback Matthew Stafford was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff and three future draft picks, the former Georgia great had just one request to the Detroit front office.
Via Mitch Album of the Detroit Free-Press:
“What’s accurate is — and this is an incredible thing by (the Lions) — I asked to go to a team that was ready to win a championship,” Stafford said. “And, you know, there were a few teams on that list. There were a few teams that were not on that list. And they were respectful of that and understood completely. I had thoughts and reasons for each one of them.”
If there is one thing Stafford deserves after an incredible career in Detroit, it’s an opportunity to go to a championship-level team.
Stafford started 136 straight games from 2009-2019, a streak good enough to rank 6th all-time, and is the Lions franchise leader in almost every passing category, including passing yards (45,109), completions (3,898), passing touchdowns (282) and even quarterback wins (74).
Now, Stafford enters his 13th season in an entirely new world in Los Angeles. The Rams, led by offensive guru, head coach Sean McVay, have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL and have won the 4th most games in the League since McVay took the job in 2017. And most importantly, have one of the NFL’s top defenses. As we witnessed with Tom Brady in Super Bowl LV, an elite defense can go a long way.
All Stafford needs to cement his name in the NFL Hall of Fame is a championship and with the Rams, that mountain certainly looks climbable.
A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” is up now! This week J.C. talks recent Georgia football news, gives out our 2020 defensive MVP and breaks down the linebacker room. Listen here: