NFL fans: time to put on your tin-foil hats. Wait, they’re already on? OK!
The Matthew Stafford trade from the Detroit Lions to the Los Angeles Rams was quite the blockbuster. The Rams get an upgrade at QB in Stafford and shed Jared Goff’s contract while giving the Lions a bunch of picks.
But we’re here to talk about the connection between Rams head coach Sean McVay and Stafford, the relationship that may help Los Angeles win a Super Bowl if all goes as planned.
In the latest MMQB post, Albert Breer has the details of how the trade went down on Saturday. And here’s what was going on in Mexico after the deal was confirmed:
Meanwhile, once the deal was agreed to, some 1,100 miles south of L.A., McVay and Stafford were sitting down for dinner to celebrate a fresh start of their own, near the Chileno Bay Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, with Stafford’s wife Kelly and McVay’s fiancée Veronika. The coach and his new quarterback happened to be among a number of NFL people in Cabo last week—Saints coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees, Rams LT Andrew Whitworth and others were nearby, too, over the last few days.
A wild coincidence, to be sure, in a really wild few days that landed Stafford in his preferred new destination and McVay his preferred new quarterback.
Nothing too crazy to report there, it seems. Stafford and McVay happened to be in the same vacation location, so they decided to celebrate, right?
Well … there’s also this detail:
One add-on here: In the days leading up to the trade, it didn't hurt that Stafford and McVay had run into each other, and talked in Cabo. The two had a casual relationship beforehand. But the wild coincidence helped comfort level-wise for the Rams.
(B/c this IS a big swing.) https://t.co/oidzfLPsbj
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 1, 2021
At one point on Saturday, it looked like Matthew Stafford was headed for Carolina—And if not Carolina, then Washington. But the Rams kept swinging.
Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford happened to be together for it. https://t.co/FqepSkcQjx
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 1, 2021
The “casual relationship” might be due to this connection:
Spoke to McVay this AM.
He and Stafford have been friendly for some time now, due to an unlikely connection.
Buffalo WR coach Chad Hall and McVay were great competitors/friends and QBs at rival high schools in ATL.
Chad's sister…Kelly…is, naturally, Matt Stafford's wife.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 31, 2021
Look, I’m not saying there was some grand conspiracy of tampering here that led to the trade. A deal still has to get done, right? But still: NFL fans had some questions:
Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay "accidentally" ran into each other in Cabo like those three donuts accidentally fell into my mouth
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) February 1, 2021
"Perhaps it was a coincidence or just impeccable timing when McVay ran into Stafford in Cabo while wearing an 'I love Matthew' t-shirt.
McVay would later say the shirt was in reference to his favorite gospel in the Bible, Matthew."
– Peter King, MMQB
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) February 1, 2021
The Cabo meeting of Stafford and McVay almost sounds eerily like some damn near tampering. I don't believe in coincidence. #NFL
— NewMAK_0126 (@SouthSideSelf) February 1, 2021
Lol McVay and Stafford were chilling in Cabo this weekend. Dope https://t.co/rWkOJ9xgk4
— HoldenCantor (@HoldenCantor) February 1, 2021
Sean McVay and Stafford just happened to be in Cabo together….?
— Jacob Deprez (@JakeDeprez) February 1, 2021
Well Well Well… McVay and Matthew sitting down to a late dinner before the ink is dry in Cabo on Saturday night. What a “coincidence.” https://t.co/k3Ecp6TA9J
— Matt Dery (@DerySpeaks) February 1, 2021
