Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake, like many of his teammates, including those on the defensive side of the ball, is outspoken.
The two-time team captain is the latest to weigh in on the Super Bowl and deliver a polarizing take on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. Whereas teammate Puka Nacua was seemingly vindicated, though, Lake’s comments were less likely to have been misconstrued.
Despite what he had to say about Darnold, Lake asserted he held no “hate” for the Seahawks.
Rams’ Quentin Lake Delivers Polarizing Truth About Sam Darnold
GettyQuentin Lake #37 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the ball after a takeaway against the Baltimore Ravens.
Lake faced Darnold twice this past season, missing the second regular-season matchup against the Rams’ NFC West rival, and has a clear mental perception about the journeyman.
Lake used two words to sum Darnold up: “steady” and “consistent.”
“[The Super Bowl] really showed that no matter how bad it can be, no matter what situation you are in, if you get a good group around you, get good coaching, and just are able to have people believe in you, you can go out there and win a world championship. And I think that’s exactly what Sam Darnold did,” Lake told Kay Adams on “Up & Adams” on February 10.
“All those emotions, they’re rightfully so. He’s been through so much, been on different teams, people doubted him, people were clowning him for all the play. And then, he was able to do that.”
Lake was clear that he does not fear Darnold in the same sense that opponents fear his quarterback, Matthew Stafford.
“He’s a great quarterback,” Lake said. “He’s a Super Bowl champion quarterback. You can’t take that away from him. But personally, I’ve seen what fear is, and I go against a Hall of Fame quarterback every single day.
“That’s a different level of–you have to be on your Ps and Qs.”
It is another layer to the discourse that has taken place about the Rams in the aftermath of the Super Bowl.
“Surprisingly, I don’t hate them as much as the Niners,” Lake told Adams when asked directly. “I have more respect for [the Seahawks] just because they play hard, and I know some guys over there.
“Ernest Jones, Cooper Kupp, those are guys that I’ve been close with, guys that I’ve shed blood, sweat, and tears with on the field, and been able to talk to. And, obviously, went against Cooper Kupp multiple times in practice. So, there was no bad blood at all. I don’t have that same feeling. It’s just more so, hey, I’m just disappointed it wasn’t us.”
Tom Brady Praises Quentin Lake
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 and Quentin Lake #37 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrate after facing the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Lake joined Stafford as the Rams duo received praise from former NFL QB and current Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.
Brady honored Lake and Stafford as part of his “LFG Players of the Year” for the 2025 season. Like Brady, Lake was a sixth-round draft pick, selected 12 slots and 22 years after the legendary New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers passer.
Brady named Lake the “LFG 6th Round Pick of the Year.”
“This just speaks to [music] my heart. It just warms me inside thinking about these guys that are drafted late, passed over all these times by these genius scouts and personnel executives that think they have all the answers all the time. And sometimes they just slip through the crack to the sixth round. But I’ll tell you who doesn’t, who deserves to be on this list. Quentin Lake. Great year in the secondary,” Brady said on February 1.
“They really missed him when he was out. That Rams defense, when he was out, their points per game went way up. When he’s in, he’s the X factor in that secondary.”
Adams played the remarks to introduce the DB on the show. The kind words from Brady left Lake flattered. Lake said it was “crazy” he was on the receiving end of “recognition like that,” and that it was a “heartfelt moment.”
“Tom’s one of the best players,” Lake told Adams. “And then, for him to be able to recognize me, and then kind of interject his own little ‘genius scouts, they miss it sometimes.’ And then, obviously, he was a sixth-round pick, too. So, a little connection there, but it was awesome to hear from him.”
Rams Team Captain Gets Honest About Sam Darnold, Seahawks After Super Bowl