Todd Gurley during 2019 Super Bowl (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Todd Gurley entered a gymnasium emblazoned in red, black, and white on the walls.
But he addressed a crowd with a high number of teenagers wearing his throwback Los Angeles Rams No. 30 jersey – the one he popularized from 2015 to 2019.
Gurley spoke to a mixture of kids clad in Rams colors and Sierra Vista High’s primary coloring – to give back to his first NFL community.
He shared the importance of being respectful, navigating through life’s trials and tribulations, humorously answered a student’s Super Bowl LIII question, and lastly, gifted the football program free Old Spice gear.
“It’s been incredible partnering with Old Spice,” Gurley said one-on-one with RG Media. “When you get to be able to do these different endorsements and partnerships, that’s always great. But I think it’s super great when it involves that give back feel.”
Why Aaron Donald Inspired Gurley
Gurley came close to winning one Super Bowl ring. He even paused and smiled at the student asking him about the now infamous Super Bowl loss on the Rams’ side.
But one positive he gained from that evening? Playing in his old college state of Georgia and near his alma mater. Plus nearly winning a title with a man he still greatly respects: Aaron Donald.
“A.D.” even helped inspire the running back with his approach toward the game.
“Aaron Donald’s work ethic is like no other. I’m not going to lie to you. The stuff that he does? It’s almost maniac-ish,” Gurley explained. “But it goes to show you why he’s in the position that he’s in. I firsthand saw it.”
Donald is known for insane workouts that made him look nothing like the prototypical defensive lineman – but more like a Greek God made from granite and stone. Donald’s workout habits weren’t the only areas Gurley respected from him.
“This was a guy who wasn’t really outside with going out and partying. He’s a family man, then locking in and working out like he was still trying to make it. And do it by keeping the same workout regimen,” Gurley said. “Just a great dude. He deserves everything he got.”
Gurley “Proud” of Another Rams Teammate
The star, now five years removed from his last NFL game, got to visit a California Interscholastic (CIF) Southern Section high school. It just so happens that a former Rams teammate of his coaches in the same section.
Troy Hill went from shoulder pads and a helmet to wearing a headset. Hill himself is leaning into past experiences with the Rams and other football stops to build up St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura. Gurley vividly recalls the persona of the versatile defensive back.
“Troy was chill. He was super chill as a person,” Gurley said. “But he would go about his day – go to work, show up and make plays.”
He also recalls how Hill always was surrounded by All-Pro cornerbacks to assist his career.
“I think being able to have guys like [Aqib] Talib, Jalen Ramsey, Marcus Peters, him being with those caliber of DBs and learn from them [helped],” Gurley said.
He can’t help but feel energized for Hill’s next chapter in leading young men as a head coach.
“Definitely proud of him,” Gurley said.
Gurley Addresses Current Rams
Gurley first cleared up a misunderstanding from one student who asked him how he dealt with his departure from the Rams – by asking how he felt about being traded.
Gurley politely corrected the young man and said he got cut, never traded. But explained how the move was merely a business decision and reminded the crowd how competitive the NFL really is.
Yet to this day, he still thinks highly of his former head coach, Sean McVay.
“Definitely a mastermind when it comes to offense. But even from him learning at such a young age,” Gurley said. “I think he’s been able to do a great job year after year. Plus being able to adjust whether he made trades or cuts and still being able to adjust from that.”
One adjustment McVay needed to make? Drawing plays up for Davante Adams after so many years of making Cooper Kupp the emphasis. Does Gurley rave about the Adams fit?
“I like it, I like it,” Gurley said twice. “He’s got touchdowns in back-to-back games. But obviously, Puka Nacua being there I think is the clear-cut No. 1. Not that Davante isn’t a No. 1 WR, but Puka has been with Matt [Stafford] for three years, they still have their chemistry.”
Even with Adams newly inserted, Gurley believes the 2025 Rams haven’t reached their full potential just yet.
“I like Davante Adams being there. I still feel like they haven’t really hit on all cylinders yet,” Gurley said. “You had the first game which was a close one that came to the wire. Saw my man No. 53 (Nate Landman, linebacker), he won that game. Then Tennessee with a rookie quarterback and finishing that and last game, being able to lose that – it’s a tough one to lose. But it’s what happens when you turn the ball over on special teams like that.”
Gurley is referencing the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss from Sunday. Best known for witnessing two blocked field goals – including one that saw 336-pound Jordan Davis run all the way back to the end zone.
The 31-year-old Gurley, though, pointed out another big miscue from that loss.
“They also had a lot of missed third downs,” Gurley said. “You take those third downs and field goals and convert those…the Eagles should’ve never been in the game.”
He hopes the Rams can dive into the positives of that first defeat of ’25.
“It’s a positive outlook on the game. But we ain’t gonna win nothing if we’re losing off a field goal. That’s little problems you shouldn’t really worry about. There are still great things to take from the game,” Gurley said.
Gurley Speaks on Other Talented RBs
The former Rams and Atlanta Falcons back avidly observes other RBs toting the rock. More so, Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, whom Gurley revealed he is a huge fan of.
But he cited two RBs he hopes teams will break out eventually. Plus Gurley spoke on a struggling running back he believes in.
“I’m ready for the Packers to get their receiving game up so my boy Josh Jacobs can do his thing,” Gurley said.
He adds he can’t wait for Joe Mixon to recapture his past form. The 29-year-old still has his name on the non-football injury list (NFI) with Week 4 on deck for the Houston Texans.
He’s noticed Ashton Jeanty enduring a slow start in the league – all despite landing in the top 10 of April’s NFL Draft and delivering a 2,000-yard, Heisman Trophy candidate campaign. Gurley sees something different outside of the struggles, though, saying he’s seen “spurts” of potential from the Las Vegas Raiders rookie.
The former Rams star didn’t stay in the San Gabriel Valley long. He unveiled that he planned to attend a certain Southeastern Conference showdown taking place on Saturday.
His Georgia Bulldogs take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in what’s become a heated SEC rivalry. Gurley still loves his Bulldog, even though they weren’t his dream school prior to his recruiting process in North Carolina. Yet admitted he needed to embrace Georgia’s culture out of the gate, including developing a disdain for the Bulldogs’ rivals.
“College is different. But it’s crazy because I didn’t grow up a Georgia fan. But the minute I got on the campus, Boom! I don’t like Florida, I don’t like South Carolina. All the SEC is like, you just buy into everything that’s down there,” Gurley said.
He admits, though, to missing out on one big aspect of SEC football.
“I’m going to be honest; the SEC West was always the best because the east only had maybe one or two good teams. I just wish I could’ve played in more of those hostile environments like LSU, Alabama,” Gurley said. “I played at Auburn and stuff like that. But even with Florida, we always played in Jacksonville. But how cool would it have been to go to the Swamp?”
Gurley Embraced by High School Kids, Coaches
Gurley visited a school that gave him personal flashbacks.
“I used to be in their shoes not too long ago,” Gurley said in reflecting on his journey. “So, it’s good to come back and get the love from the youth. It’s a blessing man. I can’t complain at all, just thankful.”
He once was the one sitting in the classroom or gym seats absorbing a guest speaker’s message. Now he was the motivational speaker inside the school built in 1961.
His appearance also signified this for Sierra Vista: Old Spice is assisting in the upgrade of the school’s locker rooms, via a donation of the new Old Spice x NFL Collection.
Gurley became all smiles in taking pictures with SVHS students and signing autographs. Including putting his signature on the kids who wore his famed Rams jersey for the event.
“I’m like five years removed [from the league]. So, for them to be able to have it was super cool,” Gurley said of the young kids wearing his jersey.