Two members of the Los Angeles Rams, Kyren Williams and offensive guard Kevin Dotson, admitted they were shocked to hear Matthew Stafford's return announcement.
The Los Angeles Rams will have superstar quarterback Matthew Stafford under center for the 2026 season.
After speculation on whether or not Stafford would return for his 18th season, he put those rumors to bed after winning MVP at the NFL honors award show in early February.
While accepting his award on stage, the Rams quarterback shocked the crowd and his teammates attending that he would return to play in 2026.
Many teammates knew that Stafford would return, as he informed them before making the announcement public — though two of his teammates were left out.
Running back Kyren Williams and offensive guard Kevin Dotson shared how they were surprised to hear Stafford's return.
“Everybody found out that night,” Williams said.
As for Dotson, he shared how big a relief it was to hear that his quarterback would be back in the horns for the upcoming season.
“The last two years have really been like, ‘All right, hold up. Give us an answer, please,’” Dotson joked. “Once I heard that, I was like, ‘You can exhale a little bit.’ He’s such a guy that the team follows. We rally behind him so much that him being that pivotal piece for our offense, and really the team. The defense, they know, let’s give him a chance. We know, give him a chance. Offensive line, give him at least 3 seconds, something spectacular might happen.”
Williams and Dotson are vital pieces of the Rams' offense, helping keep everything running smoothly. Both have been impactful since arriving in Los Angeles, playing a major role in helping lead the Rams to a juggernaut.
Stafford has thrived because of the play of Williams and Doston. Williams has established himself as one of the top backs in the league. In his four seasons as a Ram, the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish has tallied 838 rushing attempts for 3,834 rushing yards, 36 touchdowns and averages 4.6 yards per rushing attempt.
He's been a stellar pairing alongside Stafford in the backfield.
As for Dotson, he's been a crucial piece of the Rams' offensive line, doing his best to keep Stafford upright. The 29-year-old has been elite since joining the Rams in 2023, establishing himself as one of the top guards in the NFL.
Dotson is the third-best guard, according to Pro Football Focus, with an overall grade of 86.4. His 89.3 run blocking grade also ranks third.
Stafford, Williams and Dotson are set to do their part to lead Los Angeles to the mountain top this upcoming season.