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Rams’ Jalen Ramsey, Chargers’ Derwin James share ‘unexplainable’ bond
The star defensive backs are known for their versatility and their time together at Florida State, but their similarities off the field are why they became best friends.
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Rams’ Jalen Ramsey, Chargers’ Derwin James share ‘unexplainable’ bond
THOUSAND OAKS — Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey really, really wants to play with Chargers safety Derwin James in the future and went as far as calling it the ultimate dream.That’s coming from someone with a Super Bowl ring, assorted accolades and a lucrative contract extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the league at the time.
“That would be my real, real, real dream come true,” Ramsey told the Southern California News Group last week while eating lunch on a bench outside of the Rams’ locker room. “Like you get to play with your best friend in the NFL.”
This dream, however, might not occur any time soon because Ramsey’s best friend – someone he views as a little brother and an uncle to his three daughters – signed his own lucrative contract extension with the Chargers in the summer.
“That’s like LeBron (James) getting to play with D-Wade (Dwyane Wade),” Ramsey said. “Derwin is LeBron. I’m D-Wade.”
Again, Ramsey really wants to reunite with his Florida State teammate, but he quickly stopped daydreaming and put down the Chick-fil-A after this reporter asked in jest if it was bittersweet to see James sign a four-year, $76.5 million contract with the Chargers that made him the highest-paid safety in the league.
“Hell nah,” Ramsey said. “Why would that ever be bittersweet?”
Ramsey briefly paused to greet Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield, who joined the team less than a month ago.
“Bake, what it do?” Ramsey asked.
“Some Chick-fil-A?” Mayfield responded.
After Mayfield declined Ramsey’s chicken offer, the Rams’ five-time Pro Bowler explained why it was a proud brother moment for him to see James sign his contract.
“It’s never bittersweet when my brother winning,” Ramsey said. “That’s a win for us. That’s a win for the family.”
Ramsey’s dream of playing with James again might remain a dream, but they have already achieved many of the NFL goals they discussed during the many nights James crashed on Ramsey’s couch while at Florida State.
“Everything he did, from being top five in the draft to being the highest paid (cornerback), I was chasing those same dreams,” James said last week from his locker room at the Chargers’ facility in Costa Mesa. “He set the standard. He was the first one to go to Florida State and win a ‘natty’ (national championship). I was chasing that.
“He got the Super Bowl first … I’m trying to chase that, too.”
Ramsey and James were scheduled to play against each other for the first time this Sunday with the Rams and Chargers meeting at SoFi Stadium, but James has been ruled out because he’s in the concussion protocol. James has bigger plans ahead because the Chargers clinched a playoff spot Monday night after defeating the Indianapolis Colts.
Perhaps the “brothers” aren’t meant to play as rivals, only as teammates.
“I hope he takes care of himself,” Ramsey said Friday morning before James was officially ruled out. “That’s what I’ve been telling him this week. Just to make sure he takes care of himself. I’m happy for him that he’s going to the playoffs. He got some bigger things down the line. I want him to take care of himself, for sure.
“If maybe he don’t play, it just ain’t meant to be that me and Derwin play against each other. That would be a good thing. Maybe one day we’ll play with each other. Maybe it’s not meant for us to play against each other.”
PROUD BROTHER
Mayfield walking by while Ramsey ate lunch was a reminder of how many household names Ramsey has already played with during his seven-year NFL career.
He was teammates with outside linebacker Von Miller last year and now he’s playing with middle linebacker Bobby Wagner this year. Ramsey played with Pro Bowl cornerback A.J. Bouye with the Jacksonville Jaguars and a few other standout defenders before being traded to the Rams, who have had several star players in recent years.
Ramsey appreciates crossing paths with many talented players, but he said there are only two players he has ever desired to be teammates with: Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald and James.
“Aaron Donald because, in my opinion, he’s the best football player of my generation, offense, defense, it don’t matter,” Ramsey said. “And then Derwin James. To play with Derwin again, that would mean everything.”
Ramsey has already won a Super Bowl with Donald and has called him a teammate since 2019.
“One day, we’ll see,” James said about possibly playing with Ramsey. “Hope he comes over here.”
The details of how the best friends can play together can be discussed later. For now, Ramsey will be rooting from afar for James to win a Super Bowl and he’s looking forward to watching James display his unique skill set throughout the postseason.
“I think he’s the best,” Ramsey said. “I tell my agent (David Mulugheta) every year this is the year Derwin is going to be the Defensive Player of the Year. Like, I really think that. At some point, it’ll happen. He’s in that type of category. He’s that (expletive) good. People don’t even understand what he does and how special it is.”
Chargers coach Brandon Staley is one of the few who understands the amount of responsibility James has on the field. He also knows, from his one-year stint as the Rams’ defensive coordinator, that Ramsey is just as versatile and also has many roles on the field.
“Very fortunate to coach both of them,” Staley said. “It’s so unique that they’re best friends. What I think is very rare about both of them is that you can say they’re two of the only players like themselves. Like, there aren’t any other (comparisons) to them in the NFL. There are no safeties like Derwin and there are no corners like Jalen.”
Rams coach Sean McVay echoed Staley’s comments about the dynamic defensive backs.
“They’re both really versatile,” McVay said. “They’re both really passionate about the game. Incredibly talented. I don’t necessarily think there’s any limitations in what either one of those guys can do.”
HOW THE FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPED
Ramsey struggled to find the words to explain why he refers to James as his best friend.
He called it an “unexplainable” bond and a “natural” connection.
“We’re brothers,” Ramsey said. “There’s no checklist.”
People don’t get to choose their siblings, but they can decide who to spend their time with. Ramsey often did the one-hour drive from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, Florida, to spend time with James while he played at Florida State. Ramsey was a junior and James a freshman during the one year they played together with the Seminoles.
Now with both in Southern California, Ramsey often makes the voyage from Ventura County to Orange County to spend time with James, and vice versa. It’s a grueling drive in L.A. traffic, but it’s nice to have a personal driver.
“That ain’t no effort if it’s your friend,” Ramsey said. “Effort is like I don’t really want to do it. ‘Let me figure out how to make it work.’ It wasn’t effort. ‘Come to Jacksonville this weekend.’ Boom, we’re free. Let’s get it done, let’s make it happen. We both know our drivers.”
For James, the words weren’t hard to find because Ramsey was there for him after James suffered two long-term injuries in back-to-back summers that cost him most of the 2019 season and all of the 2020 season.
“He means a lot to me,” said James, a three-time Pro Bowler. “I just think about those two times, going through adversity, losing my season, season-ending injuries, him being one of the first to call me. He texted me, ‘Hey, man, you’re going to be alright. You still know who you are. A dog. You’re the best.’”
Ramsey was supportive but also honest with James.
“I appreciate that,” James said. “He kept it 100. ‘Stop getting your (butt) hurt, be healthy, be available for those guys. Take care of your body.’ Like it was out of my control, but you need to hear that. You need that. You don’t need to keep hearing, ‘Are you OK?’
“People always hammer him for, ‘Oh, he’s always speaking his mind. He’s a bad guy.’ He is a genuine, good guy. He cares about people.”
Ramsey and James partnered together for The Safety Corner foundation to help people in need.
“He always impacted me in a positive way,” James said.
PLAYING TOGETHER
Ramsey and James might never play together again, but they’re OK with being a few freeways apart as star defensive backs for NFL teams in Los Angeles.
And they’ll always have the memories they created at Florida State on and off the field.
“I was biased because he was growing into my best friend at the time,” Ramsey recalled. “Like on the field, I kept begging Coach for him to play immediately (as a freshman).
“They created packages for Derwin. We used to call them ‘Cheetah.’ Different types of names, like ‘Alien.’ Different packages. Every time he was in the game, he would make a play, and me and him, like we had a connection and chemistry on that field that I ain’t had with nobody else ever before until I got to the league and had it with (Eric) Weddle.”
Ramsey has played with several star players, but none of them would top playing with James again. Maybe not even Donald.
“That was our own field,” Ramsey said. “It was our type of vibe. That’s why I want to play with Derwin again.”
James won’t be on the field Sunday, but maybe brothers aren’t meant to play against each other.
