The Los Angeles Rams are already winning the offseason hype game, and the 2026 NFL Draft is still two years away. In a brilliant move blending sports, pop culture, and Hollywood, the team dropped the latest chapter of their creative draft rollout on Friday: a short film titled "Thursday."
This isn't just any promo—it's a full-blown, loving parody of the iconic 1995 comedy "Friday," starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. The Rams have perfectly captured the vibe, right down to using Ice Cube's classic theme song and meticulously re-creating some of the film's most memorable scenes.
Adding a fantastic layer of authenticity, the starring roles are played by O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Destin Tucker, the real-life sons of Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, respectively. They step into the shoes of their fathers' legendary characters, Craig and Smokey, for this unique football-themed tribute.
The cameos are where the fun really kicks into high gear. Actor and former NFL player Terry Crews makes a scene-stealing appearance as a parody of the neighborhood bully, Deebo. He rolls up on a beach cruiser bicycle, flanked by Rams linebackers Jared Verse and Byron Young, perfectly mimicking the original film's intimidating entrance.
Crews, who was actually drafted by the Rams in 1991, delivers a hilarious twist on the famous "What chain?" scene. Instead of snatching a chain, he pulls a Rams Super Bowl ring from Destin Tucker's pocket, delivering the new punchline: "What ring?"
The film is packed with other spot-on references. Jackson and Tucker nail the classic "damn" reaction after Crews flexes his iconic pectoral muscles. West Coast rapper YG appears as Stanley in a velvet robe, and Rams guard Kevin Dotson transforms into "Big K-Dot," a hilarious nod to the original's Big Worm, complete with a lowrider and hair rollers.
Dotson even gets the film's best football-related line, warning, "Playing with these picks is like playing with my emotions," a perfect riff on the original movie's dialogue tailored for draft season. This clever, high-energy teaser proves the Rams' front office isn't just building a team for the future—they're building excitement in a way only L.A. can. The draft can't come soon enough.