Los Angeles Rams · Franchise era 2 of 7

Stars and the Fearsome Foursome: the Los Angeles Rams story

Franchise era

1949—1972

Stars and the Fearsome Foursome

Los Angeles Rams

The story in one sentence

Los Angeles produced record crowds, prolific passing and one of football's most feared defensive fronts.

01

Wide-open offense gives way to a legendary line

02

Norm Van Brocklin, Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen gave the era its recognizable core.

03

Its ending created the conditions for a perennial nfc power.

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Before 1949

    What came before

    The Rams won the 1945 championship, moved to Los Angeles and signed Washington, helping reintegrate the modern NFL.

  2. After 1972

    What came next

    The Rams won seven straight division titles and reached the 1979 Super Bowl, but Dallas, Minnesota and San Francisco repeatedly blocked the path.

The core

Faces of the chapter

← Previous eraCleveland champions move west1937—1948Next era →A perennial NFC power1973—1989