Sometimes success comes sooner rather than later. After playing in Los Angeles from 1946 to 1994, the NFL’s Rams moved to St. Louis. In half a decade, the Rams had won their franchise’s first Super Bowl, defeating the Tennessee Titans, 23-16! While most Rams fans today know the names Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk, you may not be familiar with all of the players whose jersey numbers the Rams have already retired:
1. #7 Bob Waterfield (QB): 1945-1952
Waterfield played for the Rams while they were located in both Cleveland and Los Angeles. In 1945, he became the first rookie to win the NFL MVP award. In addition, the league selected Waterfield to two Pro Bowls and to the NFL’s 1940s All-Decade Team. Waterfield also played punt and placekicker!
2. #28 Marshall Faulk (Running Back): 1999-2005
In 1994, Faulk was the number 2 overall pick in the NFL draft. He was successful in the NFL, as a powerful and fast running back. During his NFL career, Faulk rushed for 12,279 yards (4.3 yards per carry average) and scored 136 total rushing and receiving touchdowns. The NFL selected Faulk to seven Pro Bowls.
3. #29 Eric Dickerson (running back): 1983-1987
During his senior year at Southern Methodist University, Dickerson finished third in Heisman Trophy voting. He then had a stellar NFL career, from 1983 to 1993. Dickerson’s career stats are impressive: 13,259 rushing yards, 2,137 receiving yards and 96 touchdowns. The NFL Dickerson thing for five Pro Bowl teams.
4. #74 Merlin Olsen (defensive tackle): 1962-1976
Before being a spokesman for a flower company, Olsen delivered crushing tackles to his opponents. Olsen played all 208 NFL games with the Los Angeles Rams. He became part of the defensive line for the Rams, nicknamed “The Fearsome Foursome.” The NFL selected Olsen to a staggering 14 Pro Bowls.
5. #78 Jackie Slater (offensive short): 1976-1995
Slater played for the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams. Both Slater and Darrel Green of the Washington Redskins hold the NFL record for most seasons with a single team (20). Additionally, the league selected Slater to seven Pro Bowls. The NFL also selected him four times as the NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year.
6. #85 Jack Youngblood (Defensive End): 1971-1984
Youngblood once said that “…if you want to do a bad enough job, you’ll find a way to do it.” In fact, Youngblood “got it”. His NFL accomplishments include:
or 7 Pro Bowl games
o 6 All-Pro teams
o NFL Team of the 1970s
or 3 Rams MVPs
o 1975 NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year
o Pro/College Football Hall of Fame
Youngblood also keeps the Rams team with the most consecutive games (201). In fact, in 14 years in the NFL, he only missed one game!
In fact, the Rams have recently achieved their greatest success in the NFL. However, several players have played outstandingly throughout the franchise’s history. Wear St. Louis Rams merchandise to cheer on the team to another Super Bowl victory!