Todd Gurley, a former star running back for the Los Angeles Rams, believes the team possesses the talent to win the Super Bowl, but cautioned that their greatest challenge may come from within.
Gurley stated in an exclusive interview with the California Post that the Rams' primary obstacle to a championship is their own tendency to "shoot themselves in the foot." This assessment was echoed by current Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie, who previously won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I think that goes for really any team in the league," McDuffie told The Post. "Everybody in the league is gifted. They’re talented."
McDuffie, who experienced the pressure of being a favorite during his time in Kansas City, emphasized that talent alone does not guarantee a championship. He recalled the Chiefs being heavy favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, only to suffer a significant loss. McDuffie stressed the importance of a team developing a championship mindset, focusing on playing for each other and not becoming complacent with their abilities.
For the Rams, the return of three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald has elevated expectations. McDuffie noted that championship teams are built through consistent effort and focus, not just on paper. He advised the Rams to concentrate on daily improvement and weekly goals, a strategy he attributed to head coach Sean McVay.
"I think Sean [McVay] does a great job at keeping us focused on today and really just focusing on week to week," McDuffie said. "Waking up every day and just trying to get better with today and winning today. And I think you just keep compiling that over time. Usually good things happen."
Gurley, who was part of the Rams team that reached the Super Bowl in 2019, highlighted the critical role of special teams, citing issues in that area as contributing factors to the Rams' struggles in the NFC Championship game last season. He pointed out that while offensive and defensive stars often receive the spotlight, special teams' performance can be decisive.
"Obviously, last year you saw the problems early at the beginning with special teams, and it ended the season with special teams as well," Gurley said. "I think being able to not take that for granted is very underappreciated."
He added that self-inflicted wounds, whether on offense, defense, or special teams, are more detrimental to a team's success than injuries. While acknowledging that injuries are inevitable, Gurley believes that consistently beating oneself can derail a season, even when a team has its top players.
When asked about potential weaknesses beyond special teams, Gurley humorously identified "scoring too fast" as a possible issue, a comment likely stemming from his experience within McVay's offense. The Rams are scheduled to open their season against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.