Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley was one of the best players in the NFL for the majority of his career until knee issues detailed everything. Years following his retirement, Gurley is shedding more light on what happened.
Gurley is still young enough to be playing in the NFL today. He turns just 30 years old in August, but the former first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft has been out of the league for three seasons now.
- Todd Gurley stats: 6,082 rushing yards, 67 rushing touchdowns, 4.2 yards per carry, 243 receptions, 2,254 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, 4.9 yards per touch in 88 games
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What’s most remarkable about Gurley is the fact he’s still among the NFL’s scrimmage touchdown and yardage leaders since 2017. This is despite the fact his final two seasons in 2019 and ’20 were by far the worst of his career and he hasn’t played since.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection who twice led the NFL in rushing touchdowns and earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, Gurley is now offering more insight into his decision to walk away.
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During an appearance on the 25/10 Show hosted by DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy, Gurley talked about falling out of love with football and retiring as a 26-year-old.
“I remember when I signed my extension with the Rams, my agent was breaking it down. He said if they cut you, you’ll be 26 with a lot of money and you’re young…that’s exactly how that s— played out… I live in LA, I’m chilling. I did everything…Would love to have a ring and stuff like that…went to a Super Bowl, lost…I did a lot of stuff that I never would have thought I would’ve ever did…
Todd Gurley on retirement, the end of his NFL career ad how Rams coach Sean McVay made him less involved in the offense late in his career.
Gurley also addressed the end of his Rams tenure and how his role was reduced by McVay. The former Rams’ running back also mentioned that he thought being traded out of Los Angeles was a possibility, hearing the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers mentioned.
“It wasn’t like ‘F— him’… Still trying to be the team guy, not really trying to really trip. But at two, I’m also like shit, ya’ll (expletive) want to pay me to sit down, s—, god damn, so be it…I knew the writing was on the wall…I knew they was either gonna cut me or try to trade me…they said something about like Buffalo and Pittsburgh and I said F— no.”
Todd Gurley on Los Angeles Rams, Sean McVay benching him more late in his career.
Todd Gurley stats comparison (20115-2023)
| Player | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | Scrimmage Yards | Scrimmage TDs | Games Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Gurley | 6,082 | 67 | 8,336 | 79 | 88 |
| Derrick Henry | 9,502 | 90 | 10,960 | 93 | 119 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 8,904 | 71 | 11,553 | 85 | 120 |
| Dalvin Cook | 6,207 | 47 | 8,079 | 52 | 88 |
| Nick Chubb | 6,511 | 48 | 7,522 | 52 | 77 |
| Alvin Kamara | 5,829 | 54 | 10,048 | 77 | 101 |
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Why did Todd Gurley retire?
As an All-American running back with the Georgia Bulldogs, Gurley suffered an ACL tear in November 2014 against the Auburn Tigers. He would still be taken with the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft, but it was the start of knee issues that ended his career early.
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Gurley was diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, a result of the knee surgery he received. In 2019, Gurley confirmed the diagnosis and explained the trouble his knee had been causing him.
After averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 78.4 rushing yards per game in his first 58 career games from 2015-’18, Gurley averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and 57.1 rushing yards per game in 2019 with the Rams. He was then released and returned home to Georgia, spending the 2020 season with the Atlanta Falcons. After averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry with only 842 scrimmage yards in 15 games, Gurley retired.
