The Los Angeles Rams have continued to prove in the 2025 season that their approach to roster construction and culture isn’t just sustainable, it’s effective. Sitting in a strong position midway through the year, the Rams have looked like a team capable of balancing veteran leadership with fresh talent.
Their ability to compete at a high level in a tightly contested NFC has been a reflection of both stability at the top and execution on the field. Even with challenges in certain stretches, the Rams have shown resilience that has allowed them to remain firmly in the playoff hunt.
Much of that success has been credited to head coach Sean McVay’s system and the front office’s philosophy of blending stars with role players who fit the team’s vision. In a league where roster turnover and inconsistency can derail franchises quickly, the Rams have maintained a level of steadiness that other organizations envy. The foundation they’ve built since relocating to Los Angeles continues to produce results, year after year.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford gave a clear look into why that steadiness exists. When asked why the Rams’ culture has remained strong, Stafford explained, “Yeah, I mean, I feel like the success comes from continuity. We have enough coaches. You know, it starts with Sean. He does an unbelievable job that guys come into the system. They know exactly what it’s about. They know what they’re going to do.”
Stafford went on to credit not just McVay but also the front office for making sure the team always adds players who fit the Rams’ model. “And then I think our front office does a hell of a job about bringing in people that know what the Rams are all about. Hey, come in here, fit in, get in the locker room, obviously learn our system, but learn what we’re about as a team and how we go about our business. The older guys try to carry on that tradition, keep the guys understanding what it’s all about, and then we go out there and play.” That mindset of culture-driven team building has been a defining feature of the Rams since McVay took over in 2017.
Team Building Culture: The Backbone of Matthew Stafford’s Los Angeles Rams
From stars like Aaron Donald and Puka Nacua to new contributors learning the ropes, there’s a shared understanding of expectations. The Rams don’t just draft or sign talent. They look for players who can quickly adapt to their system and embrace the locker room standards. Veterans, meanwhile, set the tone and carry the traditions forward, ensuring that continuity Stafford highlighted remains intact.
This approach has allowed Los Angeles to remain relevant long after their 2021 Super Bowl victory. The emphasis on culture, combined with a front office unafraid to make bold moves when necessary, continues to set the Rams apart in an NFL landscape where sustained success is rare.
To expand it more, the Rams’ model of team building is as much about roster construction as it is about coaching. Through the early stretch, he’s been a major engine for the offense, posting league-leading receiving totals in the first month and putting the Rams in position to win tight games with consistent volume and yards after catch. That kind of emergent star power feeds into the team-building narrative: the Rams aren’t just signing splash names, they’re identifying and developing high-impact pieces.
On the coaching side, Sean McVay repeatedly stresses continuity as a competitive edge, not just continuity for its own sake, but continuity that allows coaches and players to maximize what they already know while adding targeted pieces. McVay has spoken publicly about preserving the core coaching staff and the benefits of another year of familiarity among coordinators and assistants, which he links directly to execution on game day.
Talking to ‘Sports Illustrated’ in July 2025, McVay talked about team building and autonomy. “I think the most important thing is being able to delegate and give people autonomy and authority over things that they’re capable of handling. And you want to make sure that you’re there to be an ear, to be able to provide some vision or perspective if necessary,” the head coach said.
That view lines up with Stafford’s point about the system “knowing exactly what it’s about.”
Behind the scenes, Les Snead, the general manager of the Rams organization, and the front office have leaned into a model that prizes fit. Their thought of bringing in players who can assimilate quickly into the Rams’ culture and scheme gels well with the system. In team media availability and post-draft remarks, Snead has described the club’s approach to scouting and roster construction as a mix of character evaluation, schematic fit, and opportunistic moves (trades or veteran signings) when the market presents value. That front-office/coaching alignment is precisely what Stafford referenced when he credited the front office with “bringing in people that know what the Rams are all about.”
Experts and beat writers back this up. Sports Illustrated and other analysts point to coaching and front-office continuity as a major reason Los Angeles has remained competitive even after roster turnover. Analysts highlight how the Rams turned mid-round picks and lower-profile signings into high-value contributors, and they frequently note the franchise’s willingness to trade for proven veterans while still drafting for upside. That dual strategy is a solid example of culture-led team building.
Putting the pieces together, like continuity in coaching, gives younger players a clear roadmap. Along with that, the front office supplies talent that fits the roadmap, and veterans (both on offense and defense) enforce the locker room standards. The result is a feedback loop: wins and a clear identity make Los Angeles an attractive landing spot. That’s the exact dynamic Stafford described on The Pat McAfee Show.
