The Rams signed a deal with the Lions to acquire quarterback Matthew Stafford on Saturday and it didn’t take long for Stafford to become acquainted with Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay.
Stafford and McVay reportedly had dinner together shortly after the deal was agreed on Saturday, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB. While the NFL world reacted to a real success agreement, the new Rams duo would have enjoyed dinner with Stafford’s wife, Kelly, and McVay’s fiancée, Veronika, in Los Cabos, Mexico. Stafford and McVay will probably throw in some movies together in the coming weeks, but they were expecting more important things on Saturday.
“Once the deal was agreed upon, about 1,100 miles south of LA, McVay and Stafford sat down to dinner to celebrate a fresh start,” Breer wrote Sunday night. “Coach and new defender happened to be among several NFL people in Cabo last week – Saints coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees, Rams LT Andrew Whitworth and others have also been nearby in recent days. . “
So how exactly did Stafford and McVay connect so quickly? Kelly Stafford has a lot to thank.
McVay is friends with Bills coach Chad Hall, who is Kelly Stafford’s brother. The connection has led to a friendly relationship between Staffords and McVay in recent years, and upon completion of the transaction, the two couples joined in Cabo to celebrate.
Saturday’s dinner almost didn’t materialize. Numerous teams have been involved in the Stafford, Breer lotteries, including Washington, Carolina, Indianapolis and San Francisco. Both Washington and Carolina would have offered those options in the first round of 2021, and the football team would have offered the third round in 2021. But in the end, Los Angeles offered the biggest choice, bringing them Stafford and McVay together for the first of many dinners (and maybe playoff victories) in the coming years.
See Breer’s full column for more details on the trade and more during Super Bowl week.