List of Los Angeles Rams head coaches explained

The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles area of California. The Rams have competed in the National Football League (NFL) since 1937, one year after their formation in Cleveland, Ohio as a charter member of the second incarnation of the American Football League.[1] The team moved to Los Angeles in 1946 where they became the city's first professional sports team.[2] They first played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before moving to Anaheim, California in 1980, where they played their home games at Anaheim Stadium.[3] The Rams moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1995, and remained there for two decades until they returned to Los Angeles after the 2015 NFL season.[4] Currently, they are members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) and play their home games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.[5] [6]

From among the 28 head coaches throughout the team's history, Sid Gillman, George Allen, and Dick Vermeil were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions as coaches. Joe Stydahar and Bob Waterfield were also inducted into the Hall of Fame, although they were recognized for their contributions as players, not coaches.[7] Five coaches have been recognized as coach of the year by major news organizations: Adam Walsh in 1945, Pool in 1952, Allen in 1967, Chuck Knox in 1973, Vermeil in 1999, and Sean McVay in 2017.

History

Damon Wetzel was the Rams' first head coach in 1936. Although team was scheduled to play against Boston Shamrocks in the AFL's Championship Game, the Shamrocks forfeited the game after unpaid players on that team declined to participate in it. The Rams then moved to the NFL the following year and hired Hugo Bezdek as their new head coach. During his tenure, however, he coached the team to only a single win in his first year.[8] He was later fired after three games to start the 1938 NFL season and was replaced by assistant coach Art Lewis, for the remainder of the season.[9] The Rams continued to struggle under subsequent head coaches Dutch Clark and Aldo Donelli, none of whom had a winning percentage of over .400. The team finally found success under Adam Walsh who guided the Rams to the franchise's first NFL Championship in 1945. Walsh remained head coach during the team's relocation to Los Angeles before being replaced by Bob Snyder in 1947. His tenure lasted only one season, due to then-owner Dan Reeves firing him prior to the start of the 1949 NFL season and replacing him with newly minted advisor Clark Shaughnessy.[10] For the next three seasons, Shaughnessy and his successor Joe Stydahar, who was previously the team's line coach, led the team to three playoff berths including the franchise's second NFL Championship in 1951.[11] The following season, however, tensions between Stydahar and backfield coach Hamp Pool led the former to resign and the latter succeeding him as head coach.[12] Pool led the team to a playoff berth as did his successor Sid Gillman.

After Gillman left to coach the Los Angeles Chargers in the newly formed third incarnation of the American Football League, the team languished from 1960 to 1965 under head coaches Bob Waterfield and Harland Svare whose tenures yielded winning percentages no higher than .279.[13] In 1966, the Rams hired George Allen as head coach where he led the team to two playoff berths in five seasons. After Allen stepped down, Tommy Prothro served as head coach for two seasons until he was succeeded by Chuck Knox. From 1973 to 1980, Knox and his successor Ray Malavasi guided the team to seven NFC West division titles and eight playoff berths including an appearance in Super Bowl XIV at the end of the 1979 NFL season, their first in team history. After the 1982 season concluded, Malvasi was replaced by John Robinson.[14] During his time as head coach, Robinson led the team to six playoff berths and one division title. He is still the Rams' leader in years as head coach (9), regular season games coached (143), wins (75) and loses (68).[15] After a finish in 1991, Robinson was fired and Knox was rehired as head coach where he remained with the team for three seasons prior to the Rams' relocation to St. Louis.[16] [17]

For the Rams first two seasons in St. Louis, Rich Brooks served as head coach before being replaced by Dick Vermeil.[18] Despite two consecutive seasons where the team finished last in their division, Vermeil alongside a rejuvenated offense nicknamed The Greatest Show on Turf led the Rams to a win during Super Bowl XXXIV at the end of the 1999 NFL season, marking the franchise's first Super Bowl title.[19] Upon Vermeil's retirement at the conclusion of the aforementioned season, offensive coordinator Mike Martz was named his replacement, leading the Rams to four playoff berths in five seasons.[20] After Martz took a medical leave of absence after five games into the 2005 NFL season, assistant coach Joe Vitt was hired as his replacement for the remainder of the season.[21] From that point on until 2016, the Rams entered a twelve-year period poor results under the leadership of head coaches Scott Linehan, Steve Spagnuolo, and Jeff Fisher, with the latter's tenure occurring during the team's return to Los Angeles. Vitt, Jim Haslett and John Fassel also served as interim head coaches during that period. The Rams fortunes turned around with the hiring of Sean McVay as the 28th and current head coach of the team. Upon his hiring in 2017, he became the youngest head coach in league history.[22] McVay has led the Rams to five playoff berths and a victory in Super Bowl LVI during the 2021 NFL season.[23] The aforementioned win made McVay the youngest head coach to lead a team to a Super Bowl championship.[24]

Head coaches

Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach
ImageNameTermRegular SeasonPlayoffsAccomplishments
SeasonsFirstLast
1119369522[25]
2219371938141130[26]
3119388440[27]
44193919424416262[28]
N/A1943
51194410460[29]
62194519462115511101 NFL Championship Game (1945)
1 NFL Western Championship (1945)
1 Playoff Berth
1 NFL Coach of the Year Award (1945)		[30]
71194712660[31]
82194819492414731011 NFL Western Championship (1949)
1 Playoff Berth		[32]
93195019522517803211 NFL Championship (1951)
2 NFL National Championships (1950, 1951)
2 Playoff Berths		[33]
1031952195435231021011 Playoff Berth
1 Sporting News Coach of the Year Award (1952)		[34]
11 5195519596028311110Inducted Pro Football Hall of Fame (1983)
1 NFL Western Championship (1955)
1 Playoff Berth		[35]
12319601962349241[36]
134196219654814318[37]
14 5196619707049174202Inducted Pro Football Hall of Fame (2002)
2 NFL Western Conference Coastal Division Championships (1967, 1969)
2 Playoff Berths
1 AP Coach of the Year Award (1967)
1 Sporting News Coach of the Year Award (1967)
1 UPI NFL Coach of the Year Award (1967)		[38]
152197119722814122[39]
1651973197770541518355 NFC West Championships (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
5 Playoff Berths
1 AP Coach of the Year Award (1973)
1 Sporting News Coach of the Year Award (1973)
1 UPI NFL Coach of the Year Award (1973)		[40]
1751978198273403306331 NFC Championship (1979)
2 NFC West Championships (1978, 1979)
3 Playoff Berths		[41]
189198319911437568010461 NFC West Championship (1985)
6 Playoff Berths		[42]
5199219944815330
192199519963213190[43]
20 3199719994822260330Inducted Pro Football Hall of Fame (2022)
1 Super Bowl championship (XXXIV)
1 NFC Championship (1999)
1 NFC West Championship (1999)
1 Playoff berth
1 AP Coach of the Year Award (1999)
1 Sporting News Coach of the Year Award (1999)
1 Maxwell Football Club NFL Coach of the Year Award (1999)		[44]
[45] [46]
2162000200585533207341 NFC Championship (2001)
2 NFC West Championships (2001, 2003)
4 Playoff Berths		[47]
221200511470[48]
233200620083611250[49]
2412008122100[50]
253200920114810380[51]
265201220167731451[52]
27120163030[53]
287201720231157045011741 Super Bowl championship (LVI)
2 NFC Championships (2018, 2021)
3 NFC West Championships (2017, 2018, 2021)
5 Playoff Berths
1 AP Coach of the Year Award (2017)
1 Sporting News Coach of the Year Award (2017)
[54] [55]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cleveland Rams: Encyclopedia of Cleveland History . . January 23, 2024 . June 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606022005/https://case.edu/ech/articles/c/cleveland-rams . live .
  2. News: Markazi . Arash . Column: Rams’ New Uniforms Don’t Fit with their Iconic Brand . March 27, 2022 . . May 13, 2020 . September 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220915012500/https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2020-05-13/column-rams-new-uniforms-dont-fit-with-iconic-brand . live .
  3. News: Banks . Don . L.A. Coliseum Has Back-to-the-Future Homecoming Awaiting Rams . January 26, 2024 . . March 15, 2016 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126001049/https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/03/15/rams-relocation-los-angeles-memorial-coliseum . live .
  4. News: Farmer . Sam . Fenno . Nathan . NFL Will Return to Los Angeles for 2016 Season . February 28, 2016 . Los Angeles Times . January 12, 2016 . February 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220228114422/https://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-la-chargers-rams-20160113-story.html . live .
  5. News: Los Angeles Rams Scores, Stats, and Highlights . March 27, 2022 . . March 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327004416/https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/lar/los-angeles-rams . live .
  6. Web site: Los Angeles Rams–NFL Football Operations . . March 27, 2022 . April 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413183216/https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/team-histories/national-football-conference/west/los-angeles-rams/ . live .
  7. Web site: Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees . Pro-Football-Reference.com . March 24, 2022 . May 7, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130507163808/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/ . live .
  8. Web site: Los Angeles Rams Coaches . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . January 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230113214923/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/coaches.htm . live .
  9. News: Cleveland Rams Drop Bezdek . February 8, 2022 . . September 29, 1938 . January 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125211401/https://www.nytimes.com/1938/09/29/archives/cleveland-rams-drop-bezdek.html . live .
  10. News: Shrake . Edwin . A Private Eye on the New Rams . January 24, 2024 . Sports Illustrated . October 3, 1966 . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128084022/https://vault.si.com/vault/1966/10/03/a-private-eye-on-the-new-rams . live .
  11. News: Harrison . Scott . From the Archives: The L.A. Rams Beat the Cleveland Browns for 1951 Championship . January 24, 2024 . Los Angeles Times . January 5, 2018 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126072337/https://www.latimes.com/visuals/photography/la-me-fw-archives-la-rams-beat-cleveland-browns-for-1951-championship-20171107-story.html . live .
  12. News: Larkin . Will . Ranking the 100 Best Bears Players Ever: No. 15, Joe Stydahar . January 23, 2024 . . August 22, 2019 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126033426/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/history/ct-spt-bears-best-players-joe-stydahar-20190822-zpj5fbsvonabjeobkoedtbz56e-story.html . live .
  13. News: Gillman Resigns as Chargers' Coach . March 24, 2022 . The New York Times . November 23, 1971 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126201723/https://www.nytimes.com/1971/11/23/archives/gillman-resigns-as-chargers-coach-departs-after-talk-with-club.html . live .
  14. News: Robinson Is Named Coach of Rams . March 26, 2020 . The New York Times . February 15, 1983 . January 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240120012038/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/15/sports/robinson-is-named-coach-of-rams.html . live .
  15. News: Rams' Sean McVay Makes 'Promise' That He'll Coach '24 Season . January 24, 2024 . . January 2, 2024 . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103233120/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/rams-sean-mcvay-makes-promise-hell-coach-24/story?id=106049257 . live .
  16. News: Kawakami . Tim . Robinson Era Ends with a Thud . January 24, 2024 . Los Angeles Times . December 23, 1991 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126013327/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-23-sp-765-story.html . live .
  17. News: NFL Notes: Floundering Rams Dump Coach Knox . January 24, 2024 . San Francisco Chronicle . January 10, 1995 . January 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126014122/https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/NFL-NOTES-Floundering-Rams-Dump-Coach-Knox-3048640.php . live .
  18. News: Shapiro . Leonard . Vermeil Confident After 15-Year Lapse . March 26, 2023 . . January 22, 1997.
  19. News: Baskin . Ben . How Mike Martz and The Greatest Show on Turf Kicked Off an NFL revolution . September 26, 2023 . Sports Illustrated . May 23, 2017 . October 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231009003350/https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/05/23/rams-greatest-show-on-turf-mike-martz-dick-vermeil . live .
  20. News: Renaud . Josh . Mike Martz . March 24, 2022 . St. Louis Post Dispatch . January 30, 2010 . November 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211120202014/https://www.stltoday.com/mike-martz/article_78ec7350-efb8-5b0c-9d8f-6b062a213656.html . live .
  21. News: Silver . Michael . Fallen Idols . February 7, 2022 . Sports Illustrated . November 21, 2005 . May 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220529112254/https://vault.si.com/vault/2005/11/21/fallen-idols . live .
  22. News: Klein . Gary . Rams Have a New Leading Man in Coach Sean McVay . September 11, 2021 . Los Angeles Times . January 12, 2017 . June 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210623004349/https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-sean-mcvay-20170112-story.html . live .
  23. Web site: Sean McVay . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . February 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230212010541/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/McVaSe0.htm . live .
  24. News: Shpigel . Ben . Rams’ Aggressive Roster Build Pays Off in Super Bowl Win . March 27, 2022 . The New York Times . February 15, 2022 . March 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220329102913/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/13/sports/football/rams-bengals-score.html . live .
  25. News: Hammond . Rich . Focus: In Case You Don’t Know Them, Meet the Los Angeles Rams . February 8, 2022 . . January 13, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108092829/https://www.ocregister.com/2016/01/13/focus-in-case-you-dont-know-them-meet-the-los-angeles-rams/ . November 8, 2020.
  26. Web site: Hugo Bezdek . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . September 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220925195858/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/BezdHu0.htm . live .
  27. Web site: Art Lewis . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . February 26, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190226081856/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/LewiAr0.htm . live .
  28. Web site: Dutch Clark . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . July 5, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110705002605/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ClarDu0.htm . live .
  29. Web site: Aldo Donelli. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 10, 2022. January 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160123014209/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DoneAl0.htm. live.
  30. Web site: Adam Walsh . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . February 26, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190226082706/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/WalsAd0.htm . live .
  31. Web site: Bob Snyder. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 10, 2022. October 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181023123135/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/SnydBo0.htm. live.
  32. Web site: Clark Shaughnessy . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . August 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110815005312/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ShauCl0.htm . live .
  33. Web site: Joe Stydahar . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . September 26, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080926133323/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/StydJo0.htm . live .
  34. Web site: Hamp Pool . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . December 2, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101202043426/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/PoolHa0.htm . live .
  35. Web site: Sid Gillman . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . August 5, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110805081736/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/GillSi0.htm . live .
  36. Web site: Bob Waterfield . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . October 4, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111004082501/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/WateBo0.htm . live .
  37. Web site: Harland Svare . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . August 5, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110805095801/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/SvarHa0.htm . live .
  38. Web site: George Allen . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . May 13, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110513234232/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/AlleGe0.htm . live .
  39. Web site: Tommy Prothro . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . February 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110211220400/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ProtTo0.htm . live .
  40. Web site: Chuck Knox . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . January 1, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090101145053/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/KnoxCh0.htm . live .
  41. Web site: Ray Malavasi . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . April 29, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110429082152/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/MalaRa0.htm . live .
  42. Web site: John Robinson . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . August 5, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110805063356/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/RobiJo0.htm . live .
  43. Web site: Rich Brooks . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . April 29, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110429025432/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/BrooRi0.htm . live .
  44. Web site: Dick Vermeil . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 6, 2008 . June 4, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604153213/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/VermDi0.htm . live .
  45. News: Vermeil AP's Coach Of Year . March 26, 2020 . . January 15, 2000 . January 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240128084032/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vermeil-aps-coach-of-year/ . live .
  46. Web site: Maxwell Football Club——Professional Coach of the Year . Maxwell Football Club . December 5, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040307222112/http://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/content/awards/neale/2003/bio_vermeil.htm . March 7, 2004 .
  47. Web site: Mike Martz . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . October 27, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111027152201/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/MartMi0.htm . live .
  48. Web site: Joe Vitt . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . February 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205200428/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/VittJo0.htm . live .
  49. Web site: Scott Linehan . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . March 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327083927/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/LineSc0.htm . live .
  50. Web site: Jim Haslett . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . August 29, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100829123758/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/HaslJi0.htm . live .
  51. Web site: Steve Spagnuolo . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . February 10, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180210045908/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/SpagSt0.htm . live .
  52. Web site: Jeff Fisher . Pro-Football-Reference.com . December 10, 2022 . January 20, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170120034027/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/FishJe0.htm . live .
  53. Web site: John Fassel. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 10, 2022. October 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221008183155/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/FassJo0.htm. live.
  54. News: Brinson . Will . 2017 NFL Coach of the Year: Sean McVay Wins Award for His First-Year Rams Magic . March 27, 2022 . . February 3, 2018 . January 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117225821/https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2017-nfl-coach-of-the-year-sean-mcvay-wins-award-for-his-first-year-rams-magic/ . live .
  55. News: Marvez . Alex . NFL Coaches Vote Sean McVay Sporting News Coach of the Year for 2017 . February 8, 2022 . . January 24, 2018 . February 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220212064335/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/rams-sean-mcvay-coach-of-the-year-award-2017-vote/19ycp26pkczx51lhuejieyq6ka . live .

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