Rams, Kyren Williams get deal done

Oxnard, CA (News4usOnline) – The biggest takeaway from the joint practice between the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys had nothing to do with what was happening on the football field. 

The news was made off it as the Rams and running back Kyren Williams agreed on a contract extension for the fourth-year player. 

“It feels amazing,” Williams said at a post-practice press conference. This whole day is surreal. I’ll never forget this day, but this is the day that I worked for my whole life. I knew I was going to be here. I didn’t know when, I didn’t know how, I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be but I’m here and so I want to say thank you to everybody that played a part in making it happen. 

“But for me, it means everything. It means a whole lot that this organization believes in me and I’m going to continue to keep giving them everything that I have in my soul to make sure that they know that.” 

Williams received a three-year deal from the Rams. The contract runs through the 2028 season. What the Williams contract extension means for the team is that the Rams now have a backfield cornerstone for the next couple of seasons in the former Notre Dame running back.

“It means everything,” Williams stated. “For me, I’m all about commitment. I’m all about the loyalty. The people that pour into me, I’m going to pour into you. The Rams have done nothing but that since I’ve gotten here, since I arrived in 2022. Through all the difficulties that I’ve had in my journey of injuries and whatnot, they never really batted an eye.”

Williams’ success has been a gradual projection. During his rookie campaign, he only rushed for 139 yards in 10 games. His sophomore season, Williams busted out of the shadows to show off his potential with 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing.

He went on to solidify his worth to the team in 2024, rushing for 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns through 16 games. Williams had a bit of a setback early in his career when he broke his foot in 2022. 

That’s when the Rams featured a horde of running backs. 

“Coach McVay has always been there for me since day one,” Williams remarked. “He’s always instilled that confidence in me that I was going to continue to be the player that I hope to be. He’s done that since I broke my foot. I remember him texting me in that hotel room, telling me that I’m going to be okay, and I’m going to be better.” 

“I just remember sitting in that bed again, I started crying because this means so much to me. For my coach to come out and text me when I was at my roughest times in my rookie year, it meant so much to me,” Williams added. 

Williams eventually separated himself from the pack and has been head coach Sean McVay’s leading man ever since.    

“I don’t know that you want to compare him to anybody else,” McVay said. “We’ve been really fortunate to have a lot of special people in our building. Obviously [former running back] Todd [Gurley] made a tremendous impact on our football team, but I think this represents, not exclusive to the running back position, but a human being that’s handled everything the right way.”

McVay went on to say Williams exemplifies what it takes to be a member of the Rams.    

“He’s shown the mental and physical toughness that we’re looking for, the way that he responds to both the good things with humility and some of the challenging setbacks with the growth mindset that we’re looking for. He’s a great teammate. He’s got great energy. This was something that was earned. He earned this. He’s been a really impactful teammate and person and player for us,” McVay said. 

Williams showed the Rams the type of player and person he is by attending and participating in training camp practices despite contract negotiations going on behind the scenes. Instead of being a distraction, Williams went about his business of working on his craft with his teammates. 

In his mind, there was no doubt something would get done. Williams credits his faith and being steadfast throughout the process.

“Just the Lord,” Williams said. “Just knowing that my whole life has been ups and downs. There have been ebbs and flows. There have been things that I didn’t think I would come out of, but the great Lord brought me out of, so this was nothing else. This is nothing else different. This is something that I knew was going to happen. Like I said, I just didn’t know when. I expected it to happen.”