Los Angeles Rams honor fire first responders in relocated NFL wild-card game

Wildfire storms raging across Los Angeles County have forced the Los Angeles Rams to move Monday's wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona's Glendale Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. But before the game kicked off, ESPN's ” ” broadcast live the emotions stirred by the disaster in the Rams' hometown.

Rams players Cooper Kupp, Puka Nakua, Matthew Stafford and coach Sean McVay all wore special “LAFD” T-shirts with the Rams logo before the game. . Rams hero Andrew Whitworth, the retired offensive lineman who helped the team to victory in the 2021 Super Bowl, addressed the crowd at State Farm Stadium to honor the stadium. The cry of the disaster-stricken city.

“We are strong. We will not be defined by this disaster. Together we will rebuild Los Angeles, no matter how long it takes, no matter what it takes. We will build it together,” Whitworth said. “Los Angeles, I love you. We love you and we are with you.”

A moment of silence was then held inside the stadium to remember the Los Angeles County residents displaced by the fires since January 7. ESPN cameras panned across the stadium, showing the emotions on people's faces as a group of Rams fans made the trek east to cheer on their team's advance into the NFL playoffs.

Singer Rachel Platten, known for her impassioned anthem “The Fight Song,” sang the national anthem. The long-time Los Angeles resident looked at ESPN's cameras with tears in her eyes as they finally broke up.

As Whitworth observed, “Entire communities have been devastated, and more work needs to be done together. The courage and bravery of our firefighters and first responders is a testament to the real-life heroes living right here in among us.”

During commercial breaks, ESPN aired short digital clips of prominent Los Angeles celebrities, including actors Anne Hathaway and Bryan Cranston, expressing gratitude for the work of firefighters and first responders. Snoop Dogg appears in a video with Jimmy Kimmel. “Stay strong, Los Angeles,” Kimmel said. Snoop added: “Thank you to everyone who helped us get through this terrible tragedy. We are in this together.”

(Pictured: Former Los Angeles Rams player Andrew Whitworth speaks to the crowd at State Farm Stadium on January 13, 2025)

Angelique Jackson and Carol Horst contributed to this report.