Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey considers Los Angeles to be like a second home. He has family there, his daughter was born in the city, and many of his most memorable moments in football are tied to the area.
“At a time when I wasn’t enjoying football as much, getting traded to LA completely changed my outlook,” Ramsey shared on Saturday. “It was an incredible experience. Honestly, I have nothing but positive things to say about my time in LA.”
Ramsey will return to Los Angeles on Monday when the Dolphins face the Rams, marking his first game against the team with whom he won a Super Bowl in 2021.
Although he was traded to Miami before the 2023 season, Ramsey made it clear he won’t focus on personal sentiment during the game, especially with Miami needing a win. The Dolphins (2-6) are on a three-game losing streak and have suffered two straight defeats from walk-off field goals.
“I’ll take a moment to reconnect with some former teammates,” Ramsey said. “I’ve heard from a lot of them this week, though I haven’t responded yet. I’ll also catch up with the staff in LA coaches, training staff, equipment staff—all the people I built great relationships with. But at the end of the day, I’m focused on the team and the task at hand.”
Ramsey was traded to the Rams during the 2019 season after his relationship with the Jacksonville Jaguars soured. He had requested a trade after spending his first four seasons in Jacksonville following his 2016 draft as the fifth overall pick.
In his Super Bowl-winning season with the Rams, Ramsey recorded 77 tackles, four interceptions, and a career-high nine tackles for loss. Despite playing with sprained AC joints in both shoulders, he was named a first-team All-Pro.
“It was definitely painful,” Ramsey recalled. “Every week, I was trying to get my body back to normal, only to push it to its limits again during games and then repeat the process for the next week. It was hard, but we had a great team and coaching staff. We prepared well and practiced well. When you love the game like I do, you push through.”
Ramsey had a career-high 88 tackles in 2022 before being traded to Miami, as the Rams underwent a rebuild. Los Angeles was reluctant to part with both Ramsey and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who had caught a touchdown in the Super Bowl before tearing his ACL. However, after several years of acquiring high-profile players with large contracts, the Rams decided to move on from the duo to focus on future development.
“You could just tell… it wasn’t necessarily the clock striking midnight, but that group, that core, just wasn’t going to last forever,” Rams general manager Les Snead said.
Since joining Miami, Ramsey has become a cornerstone of the Dolphins’ defense, excelling in various coverage schemes. He has 29 tackles, four pass deflections, and an interception for Miami’s fourth-ranked pass defense. Ramsey has allowed just 10.9 yards per completion and has pressured the quarterback five times on eight blitzes.
“His skill set is unmatched,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “He’s a unique athlete with an incredible understanding of the game. His football IQ is off the charts, not just about defensive techniques but also about offensive players—he knows their strengths and weaknesses.”
Ramsey attributes his deep knowledge of the game to his sheer passion for football.
“Everything I do to prepare—whether it’s studying the game, learning new techniques, or refining my skills—it all comes from my obsession with the sport,” Ramsey explained.
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