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The NFL constantly changes and always looks for the next replacement. Whether it’s a coach, general manager, or player, the league thrives in an environment that constantly asks, “What have you done for me lately?” The Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay are no exception, despite McVay’s tremendous success.
One of McVay’s defining moments as the Rams’ head coach came when the team traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The deal sent incumbent starter Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions as part of the package. The move made sense for a Rams team that had reached the Super Bowl just a few seasons earlier. It was a clear win-now decision.
MORE: Cleveland Browns giving another quarterback on roster an opportunity
Stafford was not interested in being part of a Lions rebuild, and the trade ultimately swapped quarterbacks along with draft picks. McVay later joined the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast and admitted that how he handled the trade remains his biggest professional regret as Rams head coach. His regret did not stem from making the move itself, but from the way he handled the situation with Goff.
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts with quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) after a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“I’m super sensitive to what an amateur I was with the Goff situation, trading him,” McVay said.
“You want to talk about lack of courage, lack of clarity, lack of ability to be able to look somebody in the eye that you’ve had a lot of really cool experiences with and tell him, ‘Hey, not easy to say, but we might explore an opportunity to acquire Matthew Stafford, and you’ll be a part of a trade there.’”
MORE: Aaron Rodgers gives definitive answer on future plans after 2026
That conversation was never going to be easy. Especially with a quarterback McVay had originally been hired to develop into a champion. Still, McVay acknowledged the trade was the right move while reiterating that he regretted how he handled the process.
Sep 27, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a touchdown pass to Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
“It was more really about me than it was about him. I had a lot of things that I had to work through, and I didn’t handle that the right way. I’m not saying we wouldn’t have made the decision, but the handling of it was exactly the antithesis of how I would hope to handle things going forward,” McVay said.
The trade has ultimately worked out for both sides. The Lions have emerged as contenders with Goff thriving as an ideal fit in their offense. Meanwhile, the Rams won the Super Bowl in Stafford’s first season with the franchise and nearly repeated the feat last season. Both the Rams and Lions now stand among the top contenders in the NFC.
At the end of the day, trades like these are business decisions rather than personal ones. Still, that reality does not remove the human element from difficult decisions of this magnitude.
Continue reading...
One of McVay’s defining moments as the Rams’ head coach came when the team traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The deal sent incumbent starter Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions as part of the package. The move made sense for a Rams team that had reached the Super Bowl just a few seasons earlier. It was a clear win-now decision.
MORE: Cleveland Browns giving another quarterback on roster an opportunity
Stafford was not interested in being part of a Lions rebuild, and the trade ultimately swapped quarterbacks along with draft picks. McVay later joined the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast and admitted that how he handled the trade remains his biggest professional regret as Rams head coach. His regret did not stem from making the move itself, but from the way he handled the situation with Goff.
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Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts with quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) after a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“I’m super sensitive to what an amateur I was with the Goff situation, trading him,” McVay said.
“You want to talk about lack of courage, lack of clarity, lack of ability to be able to look somebody in the eye that you’ve had a lot of really cool experiences with and tell him, ‘Hey, not easy to say, but we might explore an opportunity to acquire Matthew Stafford, and you’ll be a part of a trade there.’”
MORE: Aaron Rodgers gives definitive answer on future plans after 2026
That conversation was never going to be easy. Especially with a quarterback McVay had originally been hired to develop into a champion. Still, McVay acknowledged the trade was the right move while reiterating that he regretted how he handled the process.
You must be registered for see images attach
Sep 27, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a touchdown pass to Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
“It was more really about me than it was about him. I had a lot of things that I had to work through, and I didn’t handle that the right way. I’m not saying we wouldn’t have made the decision, but the handling of it was exactly the antithesis of how I would hope to handle things going forward,” McVay said.
The trade has ultimately worked out for both sides. The Lions have emerged as contenders with Goff thriving as an ideal fit in their offense. Meanwhile, the Rams won the Super Bowl in Stafford’s first season with the franchise and nearly repeated the feat last season. Both the Rams and Lions now stand among the top contenders in the NFC.
At the end of the day, trades like these are business decisions rather than personal ones. Still, that reality does not remove the human element from difficult decisions of this magnitude.
Continue reading...
