- The Rams made the biggest acquisition of the offseason, trading for quarterback
Matthew Stafford . - The trade came together after Stafford ran into coach
Sean McVay while vacationing in Cabo. - Stafford impressed McVay by instantly recalling a game-winning drive from years earlier.
The biggest move of the
Stafford has one of the most impressive arms in the league but had little success in his 12 years in Detroit, suffering through several rebuilds with the team that never got off the ground.
But in the offseason, Stafford and Rams head coach Sean McVay happened to be vacationing in Cabo San Lucas at the same time. A casual get-together was made by former Stafford teammate and current Rams offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth, and suddenly Stafford and McVay were enjoying drinks in Mexico together, talking shop.
According to a story from ESPN's Seth Wickersham, Stafford caught McVay's attention when he was able to perfectly recall a game-winning drive he had orchestrated for the Lions against Washington in 2016 when McVay was still coaching in DC.
"We came out, I threw a dagger to Marvin [Jones]. He caught it, had a big play." Stafford said. "I ran on them two plays later. Great catch on a basic from Andre Roberts. And then I hit Anquan [Bolden] in the seam."
"It was a fun one for me to relive," Stafford told Wickersham.
For McVay, it was thrilling to hear for the first time, so much so that the Rams head coach was convinced he might have found his new quarterback.
"He's got so many great experiences to draw on, but I was just impressed with his ability to sit there and be able to talk with you as he's recalling moments that occurred years ago," McVay said in a video interview produced alongside Wickersham's story.
"That is what I was so impressed with Seth, is that he remembered all those plays," McVay told Wickersham. "He could remember every play of that drive to go win the game."
For McVay, such brilliant football recall was an attractive feature in a potential Rams quarterback, and it's a skill that McVay has also shown off several times.
-Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2018
After their chance meeting in Cabo, the wheels were in motion, and just a few days later, Stafford was traded to the Rams. The newly partnered coach and player celebrated with another round of drinks.
There's still plenty of work for McVay, Stafford, and the Rams to do this year - the team is all-in once again on winning a Super Bowl after losing out in the divisional round last year.
Safe to say that if there are any great plays or great mistakes made in the opening weeks of the season, neither McVay nor Stafford will have a hard time remembering them.