But now, after falling to the Patriots in the lowest-scoring affair in Super Bowl history — his offense hanging just three points on head coach Bill Belichick’s defense — Whitworth appears to be at a crossroads, another year as the eldest Ram protecting a No. 1 pick 24-year-old franchise quarterback as likely early Super Bowl favorites, or a life beyond the game for the player who’s dedicated his career to bettering the lives of others outside of football.

“So yeah, I'm disappointed, but I've played for 13 years. I've played almost 13,000 snaps of NFL football. I love the game. I love every bit of it. You're not going to get me to pout and feel sorry for myself,” Whitworth said, before putting the game’s awards and accomplishments like Pro Bowl selections and Super Bowls victories into perspective.

“Who you are, how you carry yourself, and whether you pout and feel sorry for yourself are the only things that are going to matter, because that is what people are going to remember about you,” Whitworth said. “So for me, what means the most is that guys see me hold my head high, confident in the locker room and I'm there for them in any way moving forward.”