The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams rivalry is strong, as only 405 miles separates the two NFC West foes. No matter how heated their relationship may get, some bonds were made to withstand any form of conflict.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Cardinals running back James Conner showed he was an NFL caliber RB at the University of Pittsburgh, playing four seasons for the Panthers from 2013-2016. His freshman year, Conner was teammates with one of the greatest football players ever: Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
Though the two only shared a locker room for one season, the western Pennsylvania natives created a long lasting relationship that will exceed their years in the NFL.
Donald played his entire 10-year career with the Rams. To no surprise, he was in attendance for his former team’s 27-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wildcard match at State Farm Stadium on Monday, and of course he had his Cardinal comrade Conner right beside him.
Aaron Donald had a blast celebrating the Rams' win in a suite with Cardinals RB James Conner
"I'm proud of them boys"
(via aarondonald99/IG) pic.twitter.com/4Wq73ohASE
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) January 14, 2025
The eight-time first team All-Pro selection posted a series of videos on his Instagram story, trolling Conner, as the Rams walked to victory on his turf.
“Rams win, I’m calling it with a minute and 53 seconds left,” Donald said.
As Donald boastfully smiled as Los Angeles inched closer to a win, he flashed the camera on his fellow Pitt alum.
“Who won tonight?” Donald asked Conner.
“Red seaaa,” Conner replied, forcing the friends into laughter.
In a second video following defensive tackle Neville Gallimore’s fourth quarter sack for the Rams’ eighth quarterback downing of the game, Donald went back to Instagram to mess with Conner and got his wife Erica in on the jeers.
WHAT'S 4+4….MAKE THAT 8 SACKS TONIGHT.
????: @ESPNNFL | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/DiQRQqClKm
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 14, 2025
“Another sack on the day,” Donald said. “A pick. A scoop for a touchdown. What a day.”
While Donald was gloating, his wife repeatedly pointed at Conner sitting alone, encouraging her husband to put the Cardinals’ running back on blast.
“Ask him, he plays in this stadium,” Erica said.
There’s not much Conner could do in that situation. But if there was any attempt at a viable comeback, why not use a lyric from a rapper who didn’t lose in 2024: Kendrick Lamar.
“Turn the TV off, turn the TV off,” Conner said covering his face and waving off the camera.
What do Kendrick and the Rams have in common that the Cardinals don’t? They’re both playing in the postseason.
The 17-time Grammy winner will be playing at the halftime show of this year’s Super Bowl, and Los Angeles has a chance to meet him there after advancing. You can best believe Donald will be in the building if the Rams do.
Maybe he’ll ask Conner to tag along for good luck.
Donald has had the best of luck when it comes to battles with his former teammate.
Conner signed his first contract with the Cardinals in 2021; Donald retired from the NFL in 2023. During the three seasons they played in the same division, the former Ram bested his college teammate on six out of eight encounters, including a 34-11 defeat in the NFC Wildcard.
Arizona signed Conner to a two-year extension in December, giving the football friends reason to throw digs at each other in honor of their teams for the foreseen future; however, Conner has a lot of catching up to do as the Rams are continuing to break barriers in their history, winning a home playoff game at State Farm Stadium before the Cardinals.
The Rams have owned the Cardinals. And until it changes, Donald is going to let Conner know.
“Whose house? Ram’s house,” Donald said.
Rams’ playoff win at Cardinals’ stadium etches new embarrassing mark in teams’ history
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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live
