Todd Gurley, 27, says there wasn't 'one time' he wished he was playing football last season

[Corbin]

Todd Gurley, 27, says there wasn't 'one time' he wished he was playing football last season

Gurley appears to be at peace with his post-NFL life. But will he answer if a team comes calling in 2022?

sports.yahoo.com

Not long ago, Todd Gurley was the most electric running back in the NFL.

Last season at 27 years old, he didn't play a down while his former Los Angeles Rams won their first Super Bowl since returning to California. He enjoyed the show. But Gurley says that he doesn't wish that he was on the field.

"There was never not one time where I watched a game and was like, ‘I wish I was out there,’" Gurley recently told NBC. "I appreciated my time in the league, and I've done things I could have never even dreamed about."

Gurley spoke with NBC while promoting the Fan Controlled Football League after taking an ownership stake last week in the Beasts, a team that also includes Marshawn Lynch among its owners. The startup league that counts Johnny Manziel and 48-year-old Terrell Owens among its players lets fans call plays, among making other day-to-to-day decisions.

As far as actual football goes, Gurley doesn't sound like he's quite ruled out an NFL return. But he's happy for now to leave the rigors of the NFL lifestyle behind.

"Football-wise, just taking it day-by-day," Gurley said. "Being part of ownership groups of different companies, that's what I'm focusing on. Spending a lot more time with my family. I ain't worried about no football. I keep it real with you. I'm chilling and enjoying myself."

Todd Gurley appears to be at peace with his post-NFL life. (Kirby Lee/Reuters)

Would Gurley consider NFL return if a team made the call?​

Gurley hasn't played since 2020, when he started 15 games for the Atlanta Falcons. He averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in Atlanta and remained unsigned for the entirety of the 2021 season. Previously, he spent five seasons with the Rams, where he was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, twice led the NFL in touchdowns and led the league in 2017 with 2,093 yards from scrimmage.

It was the start of what looked like a surefire Hall of Fame career before repeated knee injuries started to take a toll on his body, limiting his production and availability at just 24 years old. He hasn't been the same player since a stunning tepid performance that saw him tally just 35 rushing yards in a Super Bowl LIII loss to the New England Patriots after the 2018 season.

Now Gurley appears at peace with his post-football career. But running back remains a position of attrition in the NFL. When teams in 2022 start to lose players to injury, will one be tempted to reach out to the two-time All-Pro? If so, will Gurley answer the call?

 

[Dodgersrf]

Gurley is done.

I dont think he wants to go through another knee rehab.

 

[RamDino]

One of the best running backs we have ever seen, cut short by knee injuries. Gurley could do it all.

 

[Merlin]

Dude was a legit star, through and through. Such a shame.

 

[RamsSince1969]

Dude was a legit star, through and through. Such a shame.

Can you imagine if he remained at 100% and had the longevity and durability of Frank Gore? His fall of the cliff, decline and ultimate send off into retirement is maybe in the top 3 "WTF happened" of all time. Especially at such a young age.
On the flip side, when he was 100%, completely electrifying. This photo of him, full speed, about 5 feet off the ground hurdling over a tackler, is one of the most iconic Rams running back photos of all time. #26 there has elephant size balls to even try and hit that freight train head on.

 

[Loyal]

I wonder how different things might have been if Gurley, was still Gurley?
We probably win Super Bowl 53, I'm guessing, unless Bellicheat planned and took him out of the game, which he had a tendency to do. But lets say we won that Super Bowl.....I think Goff is still our QB and Stafford is playing for the Colts. Gurley would be three years older and might be normally wearing down and JG would have hit his ceiling as a QB. Our window would be fast closing, where now the future is still bright for three more years, imo.
I'm happy how things turned out.

 

[ottoman89]

He pissed me off the way he left or dogged on us. But, this breaks my heart man. He was so talented, so GREAT. But you're only as good as your body is.

 

[Merlin]

I wonder how different things might have been if Gurley, was still Gurley?
We probably win Super Bowl 53, I'm guessing, unless Bellicheat planned and took him out of the game, which he had a tendency to do. But lets say we won that Super Bowl.....I think Goff is still our QB and Stafford is playing for the Colts. Gurley would be three years older and might be normally wearing down and JG would have hit his ceiling as a QB. Our window would be fast closing, where now the future is still bright for three more years, imo.
I'm happy how things turned out.

Yeah that year BB took him away, we got beat in the trenches. But in that tight a game he might have put us over if healthy. I mean just that one run that got called back with a hold really hurt us so what would have happened if he busted a couple.

Either way I am convinced we win if we had Kupp. No doubt about that in my mind. Patriots weren't really a juggernaut that year, that was a huge miss for McVay IMO.

 

[majrleaged]

Todd Gurley, 27, says there wasn't 'one time' he wished he was playing football last season

Gurley appears to be at peace with his post-NFL life. But will he answer if a team comes calling in 2022?

sports.yahoo.com

Not long ago, Todd Gurley was the most electric running back in the NFL.

Last season at 27 years old, he didn't play a down while his former Los Angeles Rams won their first Super Bowl since returning to California. He enjoyed the show. But Gurley says that he doesn't wish that he was on the field.


Gurley spoke with NBC while promoting the Fan Controlled Football League after taking an ownership stake last week in the Beasts, a team that also includes Marshawn Lynch among its owners. The startup league that counts Johnny Manziel and 48-year-old Terrell Owens among its players lets fans call plays, among making other day-to-to-day decisions.

As far as actual football goes, Gurley doesn't sound like he's quite ruled out an NFL return. But he's happy for now to leave the rigors of the NFL lifestyle behind.

Todd Gurley appears to be at peace with his post-NFL life. (Kirby Lee/Reuters)

Would Gurley consider NFL return if a team made the call?​

Gurley hasn't played since 2020, when he started 15 games for the Atlanta Falcons. He averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in Atlanta and remained unsigned for the entirety of the 2021 season. Previously, he spent five seasons with the Rams, where he was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, twice led the NFL in touchdowns and led the league in 2017 with 2,093 yards from scrimmage.

It was the start of what looked like a surefire Hall of Fame career before repeated knee injuries started to take a toll on his body, limiting his production and availability at just 24 years old. He hasn't been the same player since a stunning tepid performance that saw him tally just 35 rushing yards in a Super Bowl LIII loss to the New England Patriots after the 2018 season.

Now Gurley appears at peace with his post-football career. But running back remains a position of attrition in the NFL. When teams in 2022 start to lose players to injury, will one be tempted to reach out to the two-time All-Pro? If so, will Gurley answer the call?

Bullshit on the head line.

 

[MadGoat]

If anything, I think he'd be a great add at the end of this season like CJ Anderson. He'd probably only last four or five weeks, but that just might be enough for a contender.

If he's content, that's fine too, but Weddle showed that these guys can have a huge impact in a short time.

 

[Florida_Ram]

Mr. Todd - Gurley, Gurley, Gurley...

One of the all-time great RB's in Rams history. (even though it didn't' last long enough).

I never liked his press conferences (body language) (attitude) (choice of words) but the dude was a hall of fame baller when he was healthy.

I'm glad he's happy with his post NFL career, and I welcome him back to the Rams when he signs one of those contracts to officially retire. I will always appreciate what he did in horns.

 

[Ramlock]

Incredible player.

if he had played 6 healthy seasons for the Rams, he makes the HOF like TD.

Rams tie the game, minimum, if Gurley’s run in 53 isn’t called back and then it’s a different game entirely.

 

[rdlkgliders]

27 Years Old
WOW!

0h what could have been, Very sad!

 

[OntarioRam]

Elite 4 down RB. His pass protection was incredible. His running in the red zone was also spectacular. I did find he had a tendency to not play his best in big games. Small sample size though. He was worth every penny when healthy. I am not sure his attitude was the greatest though.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Incredible player.

if he had played 6 healthy seasons for the Rams, he makes the HOF like TD.

Rams tie the game, minimum, if Gurley’s run in 53 isn’t called back and then it’s a different game entirely.

it was 3-3 when the refs threw a flag for a claytons hold.

i lost my mind. instead of being 1st and 10 on the cheats 40 the rams were 1st and 20 on their 30. that changed the course of the game.

.

 

[dang]

I’ll never forget Tood Gurley in 2017. What a breath of fresh air. The peak being 180 total yards and 4 TDs in beating SEA 42-7.

 

[OnceARam]

He's speaking in double negatives which means he does in fact miss playing football.

His attitude only soured once it became apparent that his injury was chronic. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for him to have his gifts taken away like that.

 

[tomas]

If I remember correctly-- Gurley hurt his knee against the Oakland Raiders (2018 season opener)--- never the same after that game.

 

[kmramsfan]

I’ll never forget Tood Gurley in 2017. What a breath of fresh air. The peak being 180 total yards and 4 TDs in beating SEA 42-7.

I'da maybe given my left nut to have been at that game.
Fu*k them chicken fans.

 

[Soul Surfer]

No one could ever say Gurley didn't give 100% when he got close to the end zone.

Really amazing effort.

Really amazing speed before he got that injury at Georgia.

He was heading for the Hall of Fame before that injury in 2018.

Honored to have watched him play.