The Los Angeles Rams and Kyren Williams’ agent went back and forth for months this offseason discussing a potential contract extension for the running back. Williams, entering his fourth season in the NFL, became eligible for a new deal this offseason and he didn’t want to wait to extend his stay in L.A.
He signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Rams on Tuesday, ensuring he’ll remain with the team after this season. Negotiations never seemed to get contentious or overly difficult for either side but it was still a relief for Williams when they finally came to an agreement.
“It feels amazing. This whole day is surreal,” he said Tuesday. “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.”
Williams woke up on Tuesday thinking it might be the day a deal got done. He and his agent had a meeting planned with McVay and Rams senior manager of football administration Matthew Shearin, so he believed there was a good chance he’d sign on the dotted line later that day.
That didn’t change the fact that he was overcome with emotion once the Rams said yes. And though he had a feeling they might come to an agreement, he didn’t expect the team to grant his requests. When they did, he couldn’t believe it.
“We planned this meeting a couple days ago that we’re going to meet with Sean and Matthew Shearin this morning in Coach McVay’s office,” Williams recalled. “Just going in there with the initial meetings, we gave them the offer. We gave them the things that we wanted. The great Rams organization, Matthew and Coach McVay, they discussed and they came back to me and man, I couldn’t believe what they said. I honestly wasn’t expecting them to say yes, but when they did, you should have seen me in the room … I’ve got my hands on my face. I just started thanking the Lord because man, it was a feeling I’ll never forget. It’s like a draft day feeling and then this type of feeling. I don’t know which one is better, but they’re both up there for sure.”
Williams is a family man through and through, and after signing his contract, he couldn’t wait to tell his mom. She’s supported him every step of the way, collecting all of the footballs he handed her after scoring touchdowns in the last two years.
When asked what he’s going to buy his mom, he knew the answer.
“Retirement,” he said. “Tell my mom, she’s good.”
If there’s one player who won’t change his work ethic and dedication to football after signing a massive extension, it’s Williams. He vows to remain the same player he’s always been, pouring into his teammates and coaches every day.
That showed when he arrived at training camp and participated in every practice and drill, despite contract talks taking place behind the scenes.
“It wasn’t for the money,” he said of why he reported to camp. “It was nothing like that. It was for me personally to show them I’m always continuing to be the same guy I always have. Nothing is ever going to change me.”
The Rams got a good one when they drafted Williams three years ago, and they made sure to keep him in horns for a while longer.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: ‘I wasn’t expecting them to say yes’: Kyren Williams recalls moment Rams deal was done
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
