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INGLEWOOD, California — Eric Weddle’s Hollywood ending got here true.
The previous Utah security, six-time Professional Bowler and 13-year NFL veteran added a brand new chapter to his illustrious profession Sunday night time: World champion.
He couldn’t assist however scream these phrases in pleasure each probability he obtained after his Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 within the 2020 Tremendous Bowl at SoFi Stadium.
“Sure issues needed to occur for me to be on this second, and to complete it off the way in which we did is simply one thing you hear out of a e-book, or a narrative — a fiction fairy story you solely want that your identify could be part of it,” Weddle mentioned postgame Sunday.
“Fortunate me, it’s about me, and I’m a world champ now.”
Weddle — who retired two years in the past and signed with the Rams simply after the common season ended when Los Angeles bumped into some harm troubles in its secondary — had 5 tackles in his solely Tremendous Bowl look of his storied profession.
He was additionally the Rams’ defensive sign caller simply 5 weeks after re-signing with the staff.
Weddle even performed by means of a torn pec earlier within the sport, he advised reporters afterward, and may have surgical procedure shortly.
However the ache was all price it.
“I’m re-retiring,” he joked.
Eric Weddle had large hugs ready for Sean McVay and Von Miller within the #SuperBowl presser, with loads of World Champs chants going round@Utah_Footballpic.twitter.com/dqdRL3hqIN
— Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) February 14, 2022
Weddle was one in every of three former Utah stars to earn a Tremendous Bowl ring with the Rams on Sunday.
The opposite two had been former Orem Excessive kicker Matt Homosexual, who was additionally a Utah Valley College soccer star, and security Terrell Burgess.
Champs pic.twitter.com/rIgRC1DQ8F
— Terrell Burgess (@TiTaniumT98) February 14, 2022
Homosexual made a pair of additional factors within the sport and added a 41-yard area purpose that helped minimize a Los Angeles third-quarter deficit to 20-16.
I'm the luckiest man on the earth. Symbolize nice folks and assist them construct unimaginable careers and households. So blessed to signify two superb people like @MGtweetymonster and @weddlesbeardpic.twitter.com/160Cw80Nsv
— David Canter (@davidcanter) February 14, 2022
The one Utah tie on an energetic roster Sunday night time to return out on the shedding finish was former Utah State cornerback Jalen Davis, who has spent the previous two seasons in Cincinnati.
Weddle, although, was one of many spotlight tales of the sport.
“It took me 15 years to get right here. You don’t need to miss the chance and take advantage of it, and we certain did,” Weddle mentioned.
The Rams, regardless of main 13-3 within the first half, needed to rally for the victory after a pair of huge performs went the Bengals’ method early within the third quarter and helped Cincinnati flip a deficit right into a 20-13 lead.
The primary was a 75-yard Tee Higgins landing catch on the primary play of the second half. Moments later, Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford threw his second interception of the day in Rams territory, although the Los Angeles protection held the Bengals to a area purpose.
In that second, Weddle mentioned, he knew the Rams protection — significantly its defensive entrance — set the tone for the remainder of the sport.
Los Angeles had only one sack within the first half, however by sport’s finish, it had seven on Cincinnati second-year quarterback Joe Burrow.
“That sequence was large, to carry them to a area purpose,” Weddle mentioned. “Our entrance, I might really feel the power, the stress we had been placing on their entrance and that we had been going to take over the sport at that time.”
The Rams protection certainly took over. Cincinnati by no means scored within the sport’s closing 25 minutes, setting the way in which for Los Angeles to lastly retake the lead with 1:25 to play on a 1-yard cross from Stafford to Cooper Kupp, the sport’s MVP who had eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bengals tried to pressure a tie or take the lead down three after Kupp’s landing, however once more the Rams’ defensive entrance offered the ultimate, definitive punch.
With Cincinnati dealing with a fourth-and-1 on the Los Angeles 49 with slightly below a minute to play, Rams star defensive sort out Aaron Donald pressured Burrow into an incompletion, setting off a celebration throughout LA.
“You knew Matt was going to ultimately determine that out and make a play for us. Then to place it in our palms on the finish of the sport was image excellent,” Weddle mentioned.
Weddle credited the Rams’ leaders with setting the tone for a championship worthy staff.
“This staff is as mentally robust of a staff as I’ve been on,” he mentioned. “We by no means wavered and we by no means stopped believing. It began with the top coach and the leaders on this staff of a one-play-at-a-time mindset and staying within the second.”