LA Rams Van Jefferson: From Lombardi to Delivery room

Some fans were troubled with the performance of LA Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson in Super Bowl LVI. In fact, he never seemed to be much of a factor in any of the playoffs. In four games, he finished with nine catches out of 17 targets for 102 yards.

If you toss out that one-for-one 41 yard reception against the Arizona Cardinals, the picture is much bleaker. In the final three postseason games, he was eight of 16 passes for 61 yards.  Whether you love him or despise him, one thing is certain, that performance won’t get it done.

As for me?  I’m willing to give the guy a pass. There is football. There is Playoff football. There is the Super Bowl. And then there is the matter of your wife giving birth to your child. I’m okay with the fact that even as he played, Van Jefferson’s mind may have been dwelling on other matters, like the birth of his son.

A new baby boy

And after winning Super Bowl LVI, he was given the news that his wife was in labor.

It’s a good but stern reminder that NFL football players are indeed humans and face the same thrills, disappointments challenges, and heartbreaks that we all face in our life. But in all my time of cheering for the Rams and watching the games, I’ve never seen a player told, immediately after winning the Super Bowl, that his wife was in labor.

Some football players head to Disney World after such highlights of their careers. Van Jefferson did one better. He was off to welcome his third child, a son, into the world. And reports confirm that he made it in time to welcome his new son into the world. The couple is contemplating naming their new son either Miles or Wynn.

So that has me thinking…  I wonder if he named his son Vincent Lombardi Jefferson?   Don’t laugh. It could happen.