Eric Weddle came out of retirement this week and signed with the Rams, joining their practice squad for the playoffs. It’s a move no one saw coming, but one that the Rams felt would help their defense with Jordan Fuller out for the year.
Weddle has been away from the game for two years but he’s still confident in his ability to play at a high level. And even though he hasn’t been playing football, he’s stayed in shape in retirement.
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris had to be sure of that, which is why he jokingly asked Weddle if he was “fat and out of shape” when their conversation about his return began.
“When Raheem shot me a text to give him a call, I first initially thought it was about the Cardinals,” Weddle told reporters Thursday. “Like, ‘Raheem, I’ve watched every game, every snap, offense, defense, but I don’t know if I can be much help with the Cardinals. I think you guys got that handled.’ Then the conversation started to happen and he asked, he’s like, ‘You’re not fat and out of shape, are ya?’ And as soon as he said that, I knew what was coming next. I didn’t really know the context of Fuller and T-Rapp, the depth at safety and whatnot. He just threw out the idea that they’ve been talking over the last couple of weeks and if I’d be interested.”
Weddle was always a hard worker in the NFL, which is why he was able to play 13 seasons and make the Pro Bowl six times. Even at 34 years old, he made 108 tackles and broke up four passes for the Rams in 2019, playing 93% of the snaps.
Now 37 years old, Weddle is still in great shape after training “like a madman” while retired.
“Once you play as long as I did, football becomes who you are, right?” he said. “So even though I haven’t been playing football, I still train like I’m playing football even though it was never even a remote possibility ever over the last year and a half because I was pretty much set in my decision and very happy. This is by no means me having an itch or anything like that. It was just an opportunity of a lifetime. Knowing myself, knowing where I’m at physically, mentally, how great I feel – I’ve lost some weight, I’ve taken some toll off my knees and back. I train like a madman. That’s just who I am.”