Los Angeles Rams · Franchise era 1 of 7
Cleveland champions move west: the Los Angeles Rams story
Franchise era
1937—1948
Cleveland champions move west
Los Angeles Rams
The story in one sentence
The Rams won the 1945 championship, moved to Los Angeles and signed Washington, helping reintegrate the modern NFL.
A title team becomes Los Angeles's first major pro club
Bob Waterfield, Tom Fears and Kenny Washington gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for stars and the fearsome foursome.
Timeline
How it unfolded
The foundation
The franchise context
The Rams' franchise line crosses Cleveland, Los Angeles and St. Louis, connecting early integration, the Fearsome Foursome, the Greatest Show on Turf and Sean McVay's modern champion.
1945-12-16
Conference Championship: Washington vs Cleveland Rams
After 1948
What came next
Los Angeles produced record crowds, prolific passing and one of football's most feared defensive fronts.
The core