Just three short years ago, the Los Angeles Rams were one of the worst teams in the entire NFL. They finished 4-12 during the 2016-17 season.
But today, they’re among the best teams in the league. It’s due in large part to the meteoric rise of their 33-year-old head coach Sean McVay and the talent that the front office has put out on the field.
The Rams began their football legacy in 1937. Their home was in Cleveland, but they moved four times through the years. In 1946, they settled in Los Angeles and then moved to St. Louis in 1994.
The team stayed there until 2015. Before the start of the 2016 season, the Rams moved back to Los Angeles.
The Rams are famous for attracting the best offensive players in the NFL. During the 1960s, it also boasted the most aggressive defensive line in the NFL. In 1999, the Rams won their first Super Bowl against the Tennessee Titans.
These are the greatest LA Rams players to remember for all the right reasons. How would you rank these famous Rams players?
Deacon Jones played defensive end from 1961 to 1971. During that time, he was a wild man on the field. If you’re impressed with his 20 sacks during his first two seasons, you’ll be amazed by his 102.5 sacks in 70 games from 1964 to 1968. It’s only fitting that he made it to the Pro Bowl in all five seasons.
Even with all Jones’ incredible seasons and stats, The Rams never helped this Hall of Famer win a Super Bowl ring.
Marshall Faulk, the dynamic running back played for the Rams from 1999 to 2006. His first season started with a bang as he and quarterback Kurt Warner took the NFL by storm. The year became known as The Greatest Show on Turf.
During his first three years with the Rams in St. Louis, he earned incredible statistics. He played in 44 games and ran 6,765 yards.
Faulk also totaled 59 touchdowns during that time. He is the Rams’ top running back in team history.
Jack Youngblood played defensive end for the Rams from 1971 to 1984. That’s 14 years of bulldog tough football. Youngblood loved the game so much he played on a broken leg during the 1980 playoffs, the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl.
He had 18 sacks during the 1980 season. During his career with the LA Rams, he made 151.5 sacks. In 2001, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kurt Warner began his NFL career as an undrafted quarterback from Iowa. He got his first chance to play when St. Louis Rams quarterback, Trent Green tore his ACL in the 1999 preseason.
This amazing underdog went on to win the NFL MVP with 4,354 throwing yards and 41 touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXXIV. He led the Rams to two Super Bowls during his six years with the team from 1998 to 2003.
Merlin Olsen joined the Rams as a first-round draft pick in 1962. He played the defensive tackle position. He became part of the “Fearsome Foursome”.
This was the LA Rams’ defensive line with the four players, Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy. Together they allowed the fewest yards in 14 games. It set a new NFL record.
His first year, he made it to the Pro Bowl and received the honor of Rookie of the Year. In fact, he earned a spot in the Pro Bowl for 14 years in a row. He was also voted the NFL MVP in 1974.
He was the Rams’ all-time leader in career tackles with 915. He retired from football in 1976.
With all his years as a superstar defensive tackle, Olsen was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
The Rams can thank quarterback Norm Van Brocklin for being a huge part of their win in the 1951 NFL Championship. He played with the Rams from 1947 to 1957, coming to the team as a fourth-round draft pick.
He went to the Pro Bowl for six seasons and had his best regular season in 1954. During this season, he led the NFL in passing yards with 2.637.
Isaac Bruce was a wide receiver for the Rams from 1994 to 2007. His second year with the team, he had 119 catches and 13 touchdowns and made it to the Pro Bowl.
When Kurt Warner entered the scene in 1999, Bruce picked up his game. With Warner’s and the team’s help, he would win his first Super Bowl.
The next three seasons were equally impressive as he caught 229 passes, earning 3,742 yards and 27 touchdowns.
From 1983 to 1987, running back Eric Dickerson put up incredible numbers. During his first two seasons, he had the most rushing yards in the league. In 1983, he racked up 1,808 yards with 18 touchdowns. Then in 1984, he rushed for 2,105 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The offense of opposing teams dreaded facing him. It’s no wonder with at least 2,000 rushing yards in from 1984 to 1986.
As a wide receiver for the Rams from 1999 to 2008, Torry Holt won a Super Bowl during his rookie year. He was one of the famous Rams players during The Greatest Show on Turf.
He caught 52 passes from quarterback Kurt Warner and ran for 788 yards with six touchdowns his first year in 1999. He didn’t stop there and led the league with 1,635 yards his second year.
By the time he ended his explosive career with the Rams, he caught 869 passes and 74 trips to the end zone.
With the Cleveland Rams from 1949 to 1957, Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, played end and halfback. He got his nickname, Crazylegs because of the unusual way he ran.
During his 1951 season, he ran had 1,495 yards from 66 catches. He also scored 17 touchdowns. He helped the Rams win the NFL Championship against the Cleveland Browns 24-17.
According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, by the end of his 12-year football career, he had 387 catches for 7,029 yards. Plus, he made 64 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Choosing the best Rams players is a tough call. Do you have any favorite famous LA Rams players not mentioned here?
Football fans are so passionate and spirited about their favorite players it’s impossible to always agree on the best players. Hopefully, these talented former Rams players meet your standards for the best LA Rams players of all time.
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The LA Rams 2019 draft was high on drama. After no less than six trades, the Rams finished the event with eight new players.
Granted, the haul wasn’t quite as impressive as it could have been. The main reason is simple enough: they traded out of the first round again. This was the third consecutive year that the Rams didn’t have a first-round pick.
The crisp, autumn breeze. The scent of chicken wings in the air. The resounding chants of the home crowd echoing into the night.
Yes, folks, that’s football season!
Before you know it, summer days will dwindle. You’ll hang up your swimsuit in exchange for a hoodie with your favorite NFL team’s logo emblazoned on the front.
The Rams have won one Super Bowl (as the St. Louis Rams) back on Sunday, January 30th 2000 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for Super Bowl XXXIV defeating the Tennessee Titans 23-16. The Rams finished the 1999-2000 season with a 13-3-0 record giving them 1st in the NFC West Division, also finishing 1st out of 31 teams in points scored with 526 total and 4th out of 31 NFL teams in points allowed with 242.
During their Super Bowl win the Rams were led by 28-year-old number 13 Kurt Warner under the center who went 24 of 45 for 414 yards with two touchdowns. Isaac Bruce the Rams all-time receiving leader caught six receptions for 162 yards, one touchdown with his longest reception of the game going for 73 yards.
During the Super Bowl the St. Louis Rams scored first off a Jeff Wilkins 27yard field goal with 3:00 minutes left in the first quarter. In the second quarter Wilkins extended the Rams lead over the Titans with a pair of field goals, the first at the 4:16 mark and the second with just 0:15 seconds left till half.
The Rams took a 16-0 lead over Tennessee in the third quarter on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner to Torry Holt followed by Jeff Wilkins hitting the extra point. The Titans were able to stage a comeback tying the game with 16 unanswered points. With 14 seconds left in the third quarter Tennessee Titans quarterback Eddie George scored on a one yard run to close out the third quarter. In the fourth quarter Eddie George ran in for a 2-yard touchdown with 7:21 seconds left to go in the quarter, Al Del Greco kicked the extra point. With 2:12 left to go in the Super Bowl Al Del Greco tied the game on a 43-yard field goal. The St Louis Rams got the ball one more time and with 1:54 left in the game QB Kurt Warner connected with Isaac Bruce on a 73-yard touchdown pass followed by a Jeff Wilkins extra point kick giving the Rams their first Super Bowl win 23-16. Kurt Warner was the Super Bowl MVP.