This offseason, the Los Angeles Rams stunned the NFL world with their blockbuster trades for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. The Rams already had the NFL’s best offense and fifth-best defense last season, per PFN’s Impact metrics, yet they are now even scarier.
Andrew Whitworth, who won Super Bowl 56 with the Rams, caught up with PFN to discuss the Garrett trade, the Aaron Donald rumors, whether this season is Super Bowl or bust, the Ty Simpson draft pick, what makes Sean McVay different from other NFL head coaches, and more. Whitworth also talked about playing in the American Century Championship next month from July 10-12 on NBC and Peacock.
One on One With Rams Legend Andrew Whitworth
When the Myles Garrett blockbuster trade went down, what was your initial reaction? And how much better does he make this team?
Andrew Whitworth: “Oh man, I was excited just to see it happen. I mean, obviously being really close with the Rams organization and Sean, I knew some of the details, and so I just didn’t know if it was actually going to come to fruition and what was going to be involved in it. And so to see it happen, I was really happy about it, and not just from a competitive standpoint. I think that the Rams are going to be a really good football team this year, but listen, you got to go earn it on the field, you got to stay healthy, all those things.
“But I guess I get sensitive just because I love those guys so much, I care about what we were able to do together in our five years, and I know the human beings they are… so, some of the reactions after the draft to some of the decisions they’d made [bothered me]. Knowing what the big picture was, I think is like, wow. Inevitably, it came out after the Myles Garrett trade like, wow, Les Snead is playing chess, not checkers. What a year, what an offseason he just had. When you think about the corners that we were able to add (McDuffie and Jaylen Watson), when you think about Myles Garrett, when you think about some of the moves they were able to do, what an insane offseason for a GM.
“For me, it was [great that it was] bringing some credibility to Les, like, hey, man, listen, this dude always has a plan! He ain’t ever scared to take swings! He does not fear failure. He has always taken his shots and takes a lot of pride in it. I get proud of them to be able to say like, ‘Hey man, now how smart do they look?’ You were able to go get one of the best players in the absolute world, but you were also able to use a pick to say, ‘Hey, we’re not just throwing away the future. We’re going to have somebody who, much like Jordan Love was with Aaron Rodgers, can sit back here and learn from Matthew Stafford. Matthew Stafford is going nowhere. We already know we’re going to get the deal done, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to keep him here. And this guy’s going to get to learn from the best players in the absolute world and watch him every week, and maybe he can turn into something.’
“But because we’re not going to have future draft picks, we’ll be able to be leveraged where that’s okay [because] we’ve got a talented guy that we think could emerge as somebody down the road. But there’s no rush for him to do that either, so we can take our time in developing him. And so I think, man, you look at that and you go, ‘Wow, what an insane offseason by Les Snead. What a great job.’ Taking a team that almost won a Super Bowl, almost won the NFC Championship if not for a play or two, and now made ’em exponentially better going into the next season.”
There’s talk that Aaron Donald may come out of retirement to team up with Garrett. What is your prediction, and what kind of problem would they pose for opposing offensive linemen?
Whitworth: “It’d be scary, I can tell you that. Aaron Donald is one of one, not just as a football player, but as a human. He is one of the rarest work ethic people that I’ve ever seen. I’ve just never seen many people with the talent that he has and the work ethic that’s even greater. It’s crazy. The human being he is and the devotion he had to being great was second to nobody. And so I think when you talk about AD, if there’s a realistic opportunity that he could be playing next year for them, it’d be really scary for a lot of teams, I know that much. And so I think, to me, it’s really, ‘Hey, listen, if it happens, it’ll be awesome.’
“I’ve talked to him, I’ve tried to gauge his interest, and he’s holding out on me. He doesn’t give me his percentage. I want a percentage! Just give me something to get excited about, AD! I’ve seen him like some messages. I’ve seen everyone that’s kind of following him and trying to get a clue. But we’ve talked a little bit. He’s expressed some of it to me, and I’ll keep that between us. But he works out all the time, just like I do. It’s not a matter of being in shape and being strong; it’s whether his heart’s in it.
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“And AD is one of those people who is driven by something much deeper than just money and anything else. He takes a lot of pride in who he is every day as a man, as a father, a husband, and everything else. So I think for him, it’s a much bigger decision because it’s pulling away from your family a little. There’s sacrifices that everybody has to make for me to sign up and do this. And so I think for him, I think it’s gauging that, gauging if that hunger is still there to go get it and do it the way that he likes to do it. And I think when he makes that decision, he’ll make it. But I do think he’s interested…
“Listen, I don’t have to recruit AD, he knows how special that group would be. He knows how rare they would be. I think that for him, it’s making sure that that’s where his heart is and that this is what he wants for him and his; [that] is the number one priority, which is why he’s a rare dude.”
Many people believe the Rams are the frontrunners to win the Super Bowl. Given how talented this team is on paper, is this season Super Bowl or bust?
Whitworth: “I don’t know that any season for any team, in my mind, is ever [Super Bowl or bust] because I just think it’s so hard to get there. I think right now it’s like, ‘Man, the Rams have won the offseason!’ But what does that even mean? The truth is with injuries, with everything else, [you don’t know]. That’s why football is the greatest game in the world because that is a factor — an injury is 100% guaranteed on this team. Who is it, and how is it going to happen? Overcoming adversity, facing some form of adversity, is 100% guaranteed with this team. How do they handle those things? Who are you in the game’s biggest moments? … Can they make the biggest plays when they need to make ’em?
“That’s what we’ll have to wait to find out. And then on top of that, when you win the offseason, guess what else you get? You’re not the Super Bowl champions who are returning [to defend their title], but you get targeted like that. And so every team in this league is going to be out to prove when they play the Los Angeles Rams: this is the most talented team, but we’re a better team. And now you’re going to be circled in every locker room, and you’re going to get everybody’s best shot. So you will get an opportunity to live up to it, but it ain’t going to be easy.
“So I think, to me, it’s not Super Bowl or bust, but this team has a lot of expectations and if you want to live up to the hype, you better be prepared. You’re about to get everybody’s best shot.”
You mentioned that you’re still close with Sean McVay, who is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the NFL. What is it like playing for him day-to-day, and how does it differ from other coaches?
Whitworth: “I would say that it probably feels a little bit more like you’re playing for family. And I say that because Sean is somebody who, on a daily basis, is going to be checking in on you, your wife, and your kids. When he sees you, he’s genuinely real; it’s not ‘what’s up,’ it’s not a head nod, it’s not a ‘hello.’ It’s a, ‘Hey man, how’s your day going? How’s your wife? How’s your kids?’ There’s an emphasis in that building when there are special things going on with your kids or your family, don’t ever miss those things. [He’ll say], ‘Don’t ever let me find out that you missed those things for us.’ No, those things in the offseason are a priority; make sure you’re there.
“Myles Garrett and I have already talked about this since he’s gotten here, but he recognized it instantly, like, ‘Wow, this feels like a family, and it feels like a culture, and it feels real, and it feels sincere.’ You feel like you’re a part of something really big just walking around in the building with how they dialogue and treat each other.
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“Sean isn’t one of these people where he’s the only voice. To give you an example, every coach has a moment in the day or a meeting where it’s their job to give the presentation. It’s their job to set the scene for what we’re doing this day. Every one of ’em has a different part where they get put in front of the room. That’s why when you say, ‘Hey, Sean McVay has a lot of guys who go on to be head coaches,’ well, guess what? He’s been putting them in that scenario over and over and over again the whole entire time they coached for him. He wants guys to grow. His version of leadership is, ‘Hey, man, if I can’t produce other leaders, then how good of a leader am I really?’ And so he’s not scared to give you the floor and give you a chance to lead.
“Therefore, you have a building that permeates [that energy], and coaches feel like they belong. They’re not told what to do. They feel a part of it, and they feel like they belong in the room and they actually feel like they have a say in who this team is as well because their voice is heard. And then the players realize, ‘Wow, all the coaches are involved. I’m involved too. I’m asked questions. I’m asked to be a part of something. My family is important, my life’s important, who I am as a human being is important.’ We’re going to talk a lot about character, a lot about communication, a lot about who we want to be every single day.
“I’ll give you a great example. When they have the NFL meetings to [talk to players about] gambling or traveling or security or family stuff, Sean McVay sits in every one of those and he engages, he talks, he asks questions. He is like a rookie in there. And so the players get to see like, ‘Dang, this dude is even heavily involved when we’re talking about security for our homes or how we travel or getting a passport.’ Anything in their life, he cares about, and he’s involved in the conversation. And so you start to realize that this dude ain’t just coaching me football; he really, honestly gives a [expletive] about me and me being successful and me figuring out the best version of who I am, and he’s along the journey with me in that.
“I say this all the time: my emphasis in life is to be an all-time friend, not a good friend. I don’t want to be somebody that [is only] beside you in your greatest moments. I don’t want to be somebody that has to be in the picture when it’s your birthday or whatever it may be. I want to be the person who you could count on every single day, no matter what happened in your life, no matter how long it’s been since we talked, I am one phone call, one text, one moment away where I’ll be right beside you through anything you are going through or want to talk about. And Sean’s that kind of coach that wants to have that kind of all-time relationship with these guys where they feel like he is always somebody they can have a relationship with, not just while there’s this work relationship where he’s their coach and they’re his player.”
You have been competing in the American Century Championship for years, and you’ll be doing so again from July 10-12 on NBC and Peacock. I’m always blown away by the star-studded field. Who are you most excited to compete against or catch up with at the tournament?
Whitworth: “Oh man, it’s always so much fun. I mean, obviously Ryan Fitzpatrick and I work together with Thursday Night Football and our podcast and everything, and we always have a blast hanging and going and catching up with people. But it’s fun. The quarterbacks kind of get to show a lot from the NFL group, but there’s a lot of really good players and celebrities in this tournament.
“I would say I’m really excited about a few newcomers this year, and the reason is you got [Minnesota Vikings head coach] Kevin O’Connell, [Seattle Seahawks head coach] Mike Macdonald, and [Tennessee Titans head coach] Robert Saleh who are playing in this thing. And I think it’s fun because I love it when you see these head coaches and it’s their first time coming. And here’s the thing, all of us would say this: we’ve played on some massive stages, but when you get in front of 50,000, 60,000, 70,000 people, the kind of numbers that the American Century Championship is doing, the nerves, the energy, the anxiety of different shots… Whatever that shot is that you don’t love to have to hit, it is crazy. I mean, it’s amazing. The shaking, you get the shakes, you get nervous, you over-hit things, you under-hit things; it’s a lot of fun.
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“So, I want to see these head coaches who are used to calling play calls and expecting us to go do it, now it’s all on them, baby! And they’re going to be in front of everybody who’s just watching and they got to live up to the expectations. So, I’m excited to hear their feedback a little bit of what it’s like playing in this tournament. You got to think for even Kevin O’Connell, who played in the NFL a little bit, it’s been a long time since he’s had to do something like that. So it’s different, man, when it’s all on you, baby! There’s only one person that can get that ball in the hole and that’s you. I’m excited to see these head coaches play a little bit and don’t worry, I’m going to be giving ’em some crap.”
Why is this tournament important to you, and why is it something you make sure to participate in every year?
Whitworth: “I think American Century, it’s really cool what they do, the event they put on, and how special it is. There’s an emphasis on not just who’s playing in it, but the character and who you are matters as well. I mean, obviously they want a lot of big names so the fans want to come, but they want to make sure that you’re the kind of person they want in their tournament as well and how you treat people and how you do things. And I think when you look at this opportunity to play in this massive event that’s now on NBC and Peacock, but also raising money for charity and making a significant donation and the millions they’ve been able to raise, and then what American Century Investments does by giving money back to cancer research in itself and as a business, it just makes you feel like you’re a part of something that’s really cool and it’s bigger than you.
“And so, wow, it’s this unbelievable setting in South Lake Tahoe, a beautiful golf course, a beautiful place to hang out. And then on top of it, getting to see a lot of different celebrities and athletes from different walks of life, I think it’s just an easy thing to say this is the event of the entire year for all of us because of the setting, because of the atmosphere, getting to connect and catch up with different people every year. This is the one time a year that I see ’em. And then also what [CEO] Jonathan Thomas and his team at American Century do to make this not just special for us, but to make a special impact is what also makes it really set apart. And so I think all of us, we take a lot of pride in the event. We take a lot of pride in telling people about it. I know all year long, I feel like I have a contract on my podcast, I talk about it so much (laughs). But I just genuinely love the event. I love the people, and it’s a lot of fun.”
