Rams legend Andrew Whitworth issues stirring rallying call ahead of playoff game amid LA fire devastation
Former Rams star Andrew Whitworth rallied the team’s fanbase and the city of Los Angeles with a stirring speech Monday night.
Wildfires laid siege to Los Angeles last week, tearing through the city at a deadly pace, ravaging entire neighborhoods and reducing thousands of homes to ash and rubble.
As Los Angelenos are still left reeling from the devastation that saw thousands displaced and killed at least 24 people, their beloved Rams faced the Minnesota Vikings in the final game of the NFL’s Wild Card weekend.
Ahead of the playoff showdown, which was relocated from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood to Glendale, Arizona due to the deadly infernos, Whitworth issued a rallying cry to the City of Angels.
Addressing Los Angelenos who made the trip to State Farm Stadium and the many thousands more who were forced to flee from their homes over the past week, the former tackle delivered an impassioned speech from the field.
‘For the past week our LA region had been ravaged by catastrophic wildfires,’ the 43-year-old began. ‘Over 150,000 people have been evacuated. Our friends and our neighbors have lost homes and entire communities have been devastated. And there’s still more to work to do.
Andrew Whitworth issued a rallying cry to Los Angeles ahead of the Rams’ game Monday
Los Angelenos are left reeling from the devastating wildfires that killed at least 24 people
‘The courage and bravery of our firefighters and our first responders prove that real life heroes live among us.
‘But I believe in the people of Los Angeles. We are strong. We will not be defined by this devastation. We will rebuild LA. Hand-in-hand, for as long as it takes and whatever it takes, we will rebuild it together.
‘Los Angeles, I love you. We love you and we are with you.’
Whitworth spent five seasons with the Rams from 2017 and 2021 and helped Los Angeles to victory in Super Bowl LVI, which turned out to be his final game in the NFL.
The former-player-turned-broadcaster wasn’t the only one to pay tribute to the firefighters and first responders battling the hellish conditions on the frontlines to contains the blazes.
As a growing force of firefighters continue to battle the brutal conditions on the frontlines back in Los Angeles, the Rams honored their hometown heroes.
Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay and co. wore special t-shirts, reading ‘LAFD,’ in the team’s colors as the players took to the field to warmup, while a moment of silence was held pregame to pay respect to the victims of the tragedy.
Singer Rachel Platten, who performed her 2015 hit ‘Fight Song’ before the players took to the field, delivered a touching rendition of the national anthem.
Rams stars (pictured Cooper Kupp) wore t-shirts honoring LA’s fire department
The Rams’ fanbase made the journey to Arizona to support their team amid the tragedy
The songstress struggled to keep her tears at bay as the final note of her emotionally-charged performance of the Star Spangled Banner rang out around the stadium.
The deadly fires broke out in Los Angeles last week with the blazes rapidly tearing through the city and leaving destruction and devastation in their wake .
In less than a week, four fires around America’s second-biggest city have scorched more than 62 square miles, roughly three times the size of Manhattan, with entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble and ash.
McVay’s team made their way to the desert on Friday night and have used their divisional rival’s practice facilities all weekend.
The Cardinals opened their training facility in Tempe for the Rams’ use, and there was a big banner that said ‘Welcome Los Angeles Rams’ with the logo of both teams on the entrance gate.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill even sent two team planes to LA on Friday to help the team’s journey to Arizona. The Rams’ players were allowed to bring their families – and even some pets – along for the ride.
