Rams offensive lineman Steve Avila wrapped his Mustang in Christmas lights for the holidays. That simple act reflects the uniquely joyful personality Avila brings to work every single day.
Even when Avila hurt his knee earlier this season, which caused him to miss games for the first time in his professional career, he came to the facility with a smile on his face. He walked through the halls of the Rams' facility in Woodland Hills, Calif., peeking his head into open doorways to have conversations with the PR staff and other Rams employees.
"I try to do my part and get information on what people like because that's how you get people's soft spots and that's what I like doing around here," Avila said.
Avila has always sought out those conversations, so much so that the PR department has often joked about getting him a desk for their office – the injury just increased his availability to do so.
People who go out of their way to spread joy in others are a rare commodity. 6-foot-3, 338-pound people with that kind of zeal are even more difficult to come by. Avila "has a heart for people," said head coach Sean McVay, and the culture that he's created in L.A. has allowed Avila, and many others, to be authentically themselves all the time. The comfort that Avila has inside his own skin transfers into the team's play on the gridiron.
"Don't mistake the kindness for weakness," said offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
Avila has always been an effervescent person, but he didn't know how that would come across as a rookie in an NFL locker room. He quickly adapted to the Rams' welcoming environment and reverted to his authentic, excitable self.
"When you have a good attitude I feel like that's what really starts your day," Avila said. "You gotta really attack every day, and I know that sounds cliche, but that's really what it takes to be in this league."
It's obvious to anyone who's around the team that Avila takes his work and personal connections seriously, but not much else. His "rare ability" to control his body and quickness on the football field, according to McVay, is just part of what makes him so easy to play with.
What's really a "rare ability," to borrow a phrase, is his determination to show respect to others and see them for who they are. It doesn't matter if it's the starting quarterback, a practice squad player or the equipment intern, Avila treats everyone the same.
"I think the things that you see are consistent with who he is on a daily basis," McVay said. "I think that consistency leads to trust. The guy loves football. He loves competing and he has a great way about himself. He's a really good person. He is very responsive. He's engaged and he's very present with you."
Rookie center Beaux Limmer said that Avila was one of the first people to really help him out with drills and calls, despite the fact that they were playing the same position during training camp.
"I thought it was really nice of him," Limmer said. "Especially when you're a rookie, you don't know a lot going in and I know when you're in a starting position, sometimes people come in, you don't want to help them out because they're there to take somebody's job."
In fact, Limmer did take somebody's job, it just wasn't Avila's, as he slid back over to left guard and free agent signing Jonah Jackson was left out of the starting lineup. The kindness Avila showed to Limmer early in the year sparked his emergence as the team's starting center.
Limmer said that, at a position group where "chemistry is everything," it helps to have someone as approachable as Avila playing next to him.
"It's big," Limmer said, "especially when there are days you come in here and you're a little tired or something and you come in the meeting room and he's got that big smile on his face, popping jokes off and just how he approaches practice and the way he celebrates after a big play will kind of energize the whole o-line."
"One of the things that's refreshing about Steve is he has a very light personality," said offensive line coach Ryan Wendell, "very joyful every day and so I think that can be infectious when he's playing well."
Avila even dressed up as Santa Claus each of the past two years and came to the Rams' business office. He also went to a Walmart in costume and participated in the Rams' eighth Annual Holiday Shopping Spree with the Salvation Army. Spreading cheer and presents to kids during the holidays is peak Avila.
On a personal level, Avila reignited his love for cars last season, and he's bonded with several teammates over that joint interest. He loved them as a kid and said he now feels "blessed" to have the opportunity to invest in that passion. Avila owns two cars now, and has even planned to attend "Cars and Coffee" during the offseason with safety Quentin Lake, who has a new Porsche.
Avila talks about cars with his teammates "every single day," and for people who aren't interested, he tries to engage in their interests. Whether it's a person's favorite Pop-Tart flavor or the technique on a duo block, Avila can find something to engage in with anyone, on or off the field, making him a staple in the Rams' locker room.
"He's an outgoing guy," said quarterback Matthew Stafford. "He loves to talk, loves to be out there and compete. Some of his best moments I feel like are mic'd up. You (usually) don't really get to hear a whole lot from an offensive lineman. Then, all of a sudden you hear his stuff and realize how much he just loves going out there and competing in between the lines."
Just like his car, Avila's personality lights up his surroundings.
