“It Cannot Be Denied” Jonah Jackson Explains His Decision to Join L.A.
Last week, the Los Angeles Rams made a major splash in free agency when they signed offensive lineman Jonah Jackson to a $34 million guaranteed three-year contract worth $51 million.
In addition to covering a significant void for Los Angeles, the acquisition, together with Kevin Dotson’s re-signing and Steve Avila’s likely shift to center, gave the team one of the top interior lines in the NFL.
However, what drew Jackson to the South Coast of California?
It was the opportunity to play with Matthew Stafford one more and win a Super Bowl in 2024, as Jackson disclosed during his opening news conference.
“I knew Stafford a little bit,” Jackson remarked. “I wanted to be a part of something like that because I had him my rookie year and I saw the pieces to the puzzle, the potential to go all the way.”
Jackson was so focused on winning a championship that he passed up the opportunity to negotiate a larger contract in favor of joining Los Angeles.
Evidently, money remained a significant consideration for Jackson.
But it was just too nice to ignore the mix of success off and on the field that the Rams could provide.
There was no disputing it, Jackson said, “once I heard the Rams were willing to do what they did and be able to go somewhere and potentially win it all.” “I wanted the ideal balance between being able to provide for my family for the rest of their lives and being able to win football games. There were some teams, maybe we could have done some more.”
But why does Jackson think the Rams are so prepared for a Super Bowl run after they were eliminated in the first round of the previous season?
He thinks the team is unique and is positioned for even greater success in the upcoming season because of the presence of Stafford and head coach Sean McVay.
You just get a glimpse of it externally. The quarterback is visible to you. There’s no one like him. The puzzle pieces are really amazing,” Jackson remarked. “After that, you observe Coach McVay and their management style. You sense that it’s a friendly environment. It also seems like a place where you might settle in quickly, which is why I thought it would be a good fit for me.
