Los Angeles Rams players and coaches showed their support for the Los Angeles Fire Department Monday night during their playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Players warming up wore “LAFD” T-shirts and hats and coaches were seen on the sidelines wearing the same clothing as they prepared for the wild-card game.
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches a pass before an NFL playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Rams-Vikings game was moved Thursday from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., due to the wave of wildfires that devastated the city of Los Angeles, to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. , home of the Arizona Cardinals.
Some Rams players were forced to evacuate their homes as the game was moved. The team held a practice Friday and traveled to Arizona. On Saturday, the team practiced at the Cardinals’ facilities, then on Sunday, they checked into their hotels without family.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks with running back Kyren Williams (23) before an NFL playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 , in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Firefighters and other emergency officials worked all week to contain the blazes that left more than two dozen people dead. Officials warned that the fire threat was not over as stronger winds were expected to blow through the area again.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke about the decision to move the game in an interview with ESPN before the game.
“What the people of Los Angeles are going through, the devastation, the loss, the grief that we all feel for them, we knew the game couldn’t be played there by Thursday,” he said. “Public safety and any compromise was not something we did. And we wanted to make sure the first responders were focused on taking care of the people who are struggling so much out there.
“When we made this decision, the league came together. We have preparations or what we call contingency plans that include two stadiums every week, and that was a perfect fit in terms of where the fans would be placed. Los Angeles Rams, and I’m proud to say that 45,000 of them have made the trip here, which is just amazing. Everyone has come together and Michael Bidwell and the Cardinals are in. head of list.
Smoke from a wildfire rises above the Los Angeles Rams NFL football practice facility in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Greg Beacham)
The Los Angeles Chargers also showed their support for the Los Angeles Fire Department in their road playoff game against the Houston Texans.
