Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford Opens Up About Van Jefferson Trade
Former Los Angeles Rams receiver Van Jefferson made a big impression on and off the field for over three years, but he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford shared a bond with Jefferson throughout the receiver's tenure on the team, as their lockers were right next to each other. However, Stafford, 35, revealed that he's known Jefferson for much longer than when they became teammates in 2021.
“I've known Van since he was a kid with his dad being a receivers coach in Detroit when I was there," Stafford said during Wednesday's press conference. "He was around a bunch of training camps, followed his career for a long time, loved getting to work with him."
Stafford admitted that losing a friend to another team is not easy, especially because they "spent so much time together."
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) signals to wide receiver Van Jefferson (12).
© Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
"We're kind of trained to move on," Stafford said. "It's part of the business that I'm sure the outside world doesn't grasp, but for us we understand it is part of it. It's not an easy part of it, but it is something that we deal with.”
Stafford broke down what the Falcons are getting in terms of Jefferson's character as "a great teammate."
"Nobody's more excited for somebody else to score than Van," Stafford said. "He's always the first guy to congratulate people. We all love it when he makes big plays for us. He's just a fun guy to be around with the energy that he has. He's just a guy that you ask him to do something, he does it, full speed, a hundred percent."
Jefferson was expected to be the leading receiver when Cooper Kupp was on IR, but it ended up being rookie fifth-rounder Puka Nacua followed by Tutu Atwell. When Kupp returned this past week, Jefferson rarely saw the field. Stafford is hoping his former teammate "gets to play a bunch" in Atlanta.
"He's a talented football player and I wish him nothing but the best," Stafford said. "I texted him and I'm always pulling for him and his family, who are a bunch of good people that have been positive influences and had great impacts on my life."
