'The Wizard!' New Rams OL Jonah Jackson Happy to Reunite With Matthew Stafford

One familiar face influenced offensive lineman Jonah Jackson to move from the Detroit Lions to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason.

After four years with the Detroit Lions, new Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Jonah Jackson is off to new frontiers for the first time in his career.

As he embarks on this new chapter of his career, though, Jackson will have at least one familiar face by his side. Jackson was a rookie in 2020, which also happened to be Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's final season with the Lions. 

Even though the two players spent just one season together, Stafford was still a major factor in Jackson's decision to come to L.A.

Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK

"In Detroit, we called him 'The Wizard,'" Jackson said during his introductory press conference Thursday, per the Rams' website. "He could figure it all out, and he can make anything happen. I'm excited to be able to protect him, and let him make us look good and make plays happen."

It also helps that the Rams run a similar offensive scheme to that of the Lions, so it should be an easy transition for the former Pro Bowl lineman.

"The gap scheme, and 'duo' in general, is probably our bread and butter in Detroit, and glad it's the bread and butter over here," Jackson said. "So this is not going to be too hard of a transition, and things like that are right up my alley."

Despite having other options on the table, the familiarity and chance to join a winning organization was an opportunity only the Rams could offer him.

How Free Agency Affects Los Angeles Rams' First Round Pick

"Once I heard the Rams were willing to do what they did and be able to go somewhere and potentially win it all, there was no denying it," he said. "There were some teams, maybe we could have done some more, but I wanted the perfect balance of being able to set my family up for life and be able to win football games."