The Los Angeles Rams made history Friday by hosting their NFL Draft headquarters at a fire station in Van Nuys, honoring the first responders who battled January’s devastating wildfires.
Star quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Puka Nacua, and head coach Sean McVay attended the event, thanking first responders for their bravery.
“I commend you guys, and I really just say to you, thank you, you inspire us, all right, and hey, I can promise you this, as I look up here, I feel a lot more confident as a coach,” McVay told the crowd.
The Rams transformed a room within the station into a draft war room for McVay and general manager Les Snead to make their selections. According to Molly Higgins, the team’s executive vice president of community impact and engagement, the event was part of the Rams’ ongoing commitment to support and celebrate first responders.
“This was another example of our way of saying thank you to our heroes, and I think just to see the smiles and laughs and the gratitude,” she said.
Players signed autographs and posed for photos with attendees. Running back Blake Corum said the team plans to carry the spirit of the event into the new season.
“They’re the true heroes at the end of the day. They had to go out there, fight these fires, and they did a wonderful job at saving L.A. And so we’re going to take the inspiration [and] throw it into our culture and have a wonderful season.”
