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List of Los Angeles Rams head coaches

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 14 min

Sean McVay on field during a team practice in 2019
Sean McVay, the 28th and current head coach of the Los Angeles Rams

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, Hamp Pool in 1952, Allen in 1967, Chuck Knox in 1973, Vermeil in 1999, and Sean McVay in 2017.[a]

History

[edit]

Damon Wetzel was the Rams' first head coach in 1936. Although the team was scheduled to play against the Boston Shamrocks in the AFL's Championship Game, the Shamrocks were forced to forfeit the game after unpaid players on that team declined to participate in it.[1] 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.[12] Bezdek 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 year.[13] The Rams continued to struggle under subsequent head coaches Dutch Clark and Aldo Donelli, none of whom had a winning percentage of over .400.[12] 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 in 1946 before being replaced by Bob Snyder in 1947. Snyder's tenure turned out to be short 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.[14] For the next three seasons, Shaughnessy and his successor Joe Stydahar, who was previously the team's line coach, led the team to three consecutive playoff berths, including the franchise's second NFL Championship in 1951.[12][15] 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.[16] Pool led the Rams to a playoff berth as did his successor Sid Gillman.[12]

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.[17][12] 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 following the 1970 NFL season, Tommy Prothro was hired as head coach and served for two seasons until he was replaced with Chuck Knox by new owner Carroll Rosenbloom. From 1973 to 1980, Knox and his successor Ray Malavasi guided the team to seven straight NFC West division titles and eight consecutive playoff berths including an appearance in Super Bowl XIV at the end of the 1979 NFL season, the first in team history. After the 1982 season concluded, Malvasi was replaced by former USC head coach John Robinson.[18] 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), and regular season loses (68).[19] After a 3–13 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.[20][21]

For the Rams' first two seasons in St. Louis, Rich Brooks served as head coach before being replaced by Dick Vermeil in 1997.[22] Despite two consecutive seasons where the team finished last in its division, Vermeil alongside a rejuvenated offense nicknamed The Greatest Show on Turf led the Rams to victory in Super Bowl XXXIV at the end of the 1999 NFL season, marking the franchise's first Super Bowl title.[23] 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, including an NFC Championship and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI.[24][12] After Martz took a medical leave of absence five games into the 2005 NFL season, assistant coach Joe Vitt was hired as his replacement for the remainder of the season.[25] From that point on through 2016, the Rams entered a 12-year period of 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. Linehan, Spagnuolo, and Fisher were each fired in midseason, with Vitt, Jim Haslett and John Fassel serving as interim head coaches during that period.[12] The Rams franchise's fortunes turned around with the hiring of Sean McVay as the 28th and current head coach of the team. Upon his hiring in 2017 at the age of 30, he became the youngest head coach in league history.[26] In eight seasons, McVay has led the Rams to six playoff berths, four NFC West Division titles, two NFC Championships, including a loss in Super Bowl LIII in 2018 and a victory in Super Bowl LVI in 2021.[27] Already the youngest coach to reach the Super Bowl three years earlier, McVay became the youngest head coach to lead a team to a Super Bowl championship.[28] In 2024, McVay became the Rams franchise leader in regular season and overall coaching victories.[29]

Head coaches

[edit]
Legend
† Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach
Los Angeles Rams head coaches
#[b] Image Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Accomplishments Refs
Seasons First Last GC W L T Win% GC W L Win%
1 Damon Wetzel 1 1936 9 5 2 2 .667 — — — — [30]
2 Photo of Hugo Bezdak in 1924 Hugo Bezdek[c] 2 1937 1938 14 1 13 0 .071 — — — — [12][31]
3 Photo of Art Lewis in 1959 Art Lewis[c] 1 1938 8 4 4 0 .500 — — — — [12][32]
4 Dutch Clark 4 1939 1942 44 16 26 2 .386 — — — — [12][33]
— N/A[d] — 1943 — — — — — — — — —
5 Aldo Donelli 1 1944 10 4 6 0 .400 — — — — [12][35]
6 Adam Walsh 2 1945 1946 21 15 5 1 .738 1 1 0 1.000 1 NFL Championship Game (1945)
1 NFL Western Championship (1945)
1 Playoff Berth
1 NFL Coach of the Year Award (1945) 		[12][36][8]
7 Photo of Bob Snyder in 1948 Bob Snyder 1 1947 12 6 6 0 .500 — — — — [12][37]
8 Photo of Clark Shaughnessy in 1942 Clark Shaughnessy 2 1948 1949 24 14 7 3 .646 1 0 1 .000 1 NFL Western Championship (1949)
1 Playoff Berth 		[12][38]
9 Photo of Joe Stydahar in 1950 Joe Stydahar[e] 3 1950 1952 25 17 8 0 .680 3 2 1 .667 1 NFL Championship (1951)
2 NFL National Championships (1950, 1951)
2 Playoff Berths 		[12][40]
10 Hamp Pool[e] 3 1952 1954 35 23 10 2 .686 1 0 1 .000 1 Playoff Berth
1 Sporting News Coach of the Year Award (1952) 		[12][41][10]
11 Photo of Sid Gillman in 1959 Sid Gillman † 5 1955 1959 60 28 31 1 .475 1 1 0 1.000 Inducted Pro Football Hall of Fame (1983)
1 NFL Western Championship (1955)
1 Playoff Berth 		[12][42]
12 Photo of Bob Waterfield in 1946 Bob Waterfield[f] 3 1960 1962 34 9 24 1 .279 — — — — [12][44]
13 Harland Svare[f] 4 1962 1965 48 14 31 8 .254 — — — — [12][45]
14 Photo of George Allen circa 1981 George Allen † 5 1966 1970 70 49 17 4 .729 2 0 2 .000 Inducted 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) 		[12][46]
[9][10][11]
15 Photo of Tommy Prothro in 1968 Tommy Prothro 2 1971 1972 28 14 12 2 .536 — — — — [12][47]
16 Chuck Knox 5 1973 1977 70 54 15 1 .779 8 3 5 .375 5 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) 		[12][48]
[9][10][11]
17 Ray Malavasi 5 1978 1982 73 40 33 0 .619 6 3 3 .500 1 NFC Championship (1979)
2 NFC West Championships (1978, 1979)
3 Playoff Berths 		[12][49]
18 John Robinson 9 1983 1991 143 75 68 0 .524 10 4 6 .400 1 NFC West Championship (1985)
6 Playoff Berths 		[12][50]
— Chuck Knox 3 1992 1994 48 15 33 0 .313 — — — — [12][48]
19 Rich Brooks 2 1995 1996 32 13 19 0 .406 — — — — [12][51]
20 Photo of Dick Vermeil in 2010 Dick Vermeil † 3 1997 1999 48 22 26 0 .458 3 3 0 1.000 Inducted 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) 		[12][52]

[53][10][54]

21 Mike Martz[g] 6 2000 2005 85 53 32 0 .624 7 3 4 .429 1 NFC Championship (2001)
2 NFC West Championships (2001, 2003)
4 Playoff Berths 		[12][55]
22 Joe Vitt[g] 1 2005 11 4 7 0 .364 — — — — [12][56]
23 Photo of Scott Linehan in 2017 Scott Linehan[h] 3 2006 2008 36 11 25 0 .208 — — — — [12][58]
24 Photo of Jim Haslett in 2021 Jim Haslett[h] 1 2008 12 2 10 0 .167 — — — — [12][59]
25 Photo of Steve Spagnulo in 2011 Steve Spagnuolo 3 2009 2011 48 10 38 0 .208 — — — — [12][60]
26 Photo of Jeff Fisher in 2014 Jeff Fisher[i] 5 2012 2016 77 31 45 1 .409 — — — — [12][62]
27 John Fassel[i] 1 2016 3 0 3 0 .000 — — — — [12][63]
28 Photo of Sean McVay in 2014 Sean McVay 8 2017 2024 132 80 52 0 .606 13 8 5 .615 1 Super Bowl championship (LVI)
2 NFC Championships (2018, 2021)
4 NFC West Championships (2017, 2018, 2021, 2024)
6 Playoff Berths
1 AP Coach of the Year Award (2017)
1 Sporting News Coach of the Year Award (2017) 		[12]
[64][65]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[8][9][10][11]
  2. ^ A running total of the number of coaches of the Rams. Thus any coach who has two terms as head coach is only counted once.
  3. ^ a b Hugo Bezdek was fired after three games were played in the 1938 season; assistant coach Art Lewis handled interim head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.[13]
  4. ^ The team suspended operations during the 1943 season due to a shortage of available players stemming from World War II.[34]
  5. ^ a b Joe Stydahar resigned after the first game was played in the 1952 season; backfield coach Hamp Pool assumed head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.[39]
  6. ^ a b Bob Waterfield resigned with six games left in the 1962 season; Harland Svare assumed the role of head coach for the remainder of that season.[43]
  7. ^ a b Mike Martz took a medical leave of absence after five games were played in the 2005 season; assistant coach Joe Vitt handled interim head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.[25]
  8. ^ a b Scott Linehan was fired after four games were played in the 2008 season; defensive coordinator Jim Haslett handled interim head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.[57]
  9. ^ a b Jeff Fisher was fired with three games remaining in the 2016 season; special teams coordinator John Fassel handled interim head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.[61]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Cleveland Rams: Encyclopedia of Cleveland History". Case Western Reserve University. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Markazi, Arash (May 13, 2020). "Column: Rams' New Uniforms Don't Fit with their Iconic Brand". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. ^ Banks, Don (March 15, 2016). "L.A. Coliseum Has Back-to-the-Future Homecoming Awaiting Rams". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Farmer, Sam; Fenno, Nathan (January 12, 2016). "NFL Will Return to Los Angeles for 2016 Season". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  5. ^ "Los Angeles Rams Scores, Stats, and Highlights". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "Los Angeles Rams–NFL Football Operations". National Football League. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Flood, Gay (February 18, 1985). "19th Hole: The Readers Take Over". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "AP Coach of the Year Winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Sporting News Coach of the Year Winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c "UPI Coach of the Year Winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "Los Angeles Rams Coaches". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Cleveland Rams Drop Bezdek". The New York Times. September 29, 1938. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  14. ^ Shrake, Edwin (October 3, 1966). "A Private Eye on the New Rams". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Harrison, Scott (January 5, 2018). "From the Archives: The L.A. Rams Beat the Cleveland Browns for 1951 Championship". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  16. ^ Larkin, Will (August 22, 2019). "Ranking the 100 Best Bears Players Ever: No. 15, Joe Stydahar". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  17. ^ "Gillman Resigns as Chargers' Coach". The New York Times. November 23, 1971. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Robinson Is Named Coach of Rams". The New York Times. February 15, 1983. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  19. ^ "Rams' Sean McVay Makes 'Promise' That He'll Coach '24 Season". ABC News. January 2, 2024. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  20. ^ Kawakami, Tim (December 23, 1991). "Robinson Era Ends with a Thud". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  21. ^ "NFL Notes: Floundering Rams Dump Coach Knox". San Francisco Chronicle. January 10, 1995. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  22. ^ Shapiro, Leonard (January 22, 1997). "Vermeil Confident After 15-Year Lapse". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  23. ^ Baskin, Ben (May 23, 2017). "How Mike Martz and The Greatest Show on Turf Kicked Off an NFL revolution". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  24. ^ Renaud, Josh (January 30, 2010). "Mike Martz". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  25. ^ a b Silver, Michael (November 21, 2005). "Fallen Idols". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  26. ^ Klein, Gary (January 12, 2017). "Rams Have a New Leading Man in Coach Sean McVay". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  27. ^ "Sean McVay". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  28. ^ Shpigel, Ben (February 15, 2022). "Rams' Aggressive Roster Build Pays Off in Super Bowl Win". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  29. ^ Jackson, Stu (October 25, 2024). "Sean McVay Becomes Winningest Head Coach in Rams Franchise History with Team's Week 8 Victory over Vikings". Los Angeles Rams. Archived from the original on November 5, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  30. ^ Hammond, Rich (January 13, 2016). "Focus: In Case You Don't Know Them, Meet the Los Angeles Rams". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  31. ^ "Hugo Bezdek". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  32. ^ "Art Lewis". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  33. ^ "Dutch Clark". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  34. ^ Pugh, Chris (February 9, 2022). "The Cleveland Rams Won the NFL title in 1945 — and Then Left Ohio Completely". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  35. ^ "Aldo Donelli". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  36. ^ "Adam Walsh". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  37. ^ "Bob Snyder". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  38. ^ "Clark Shaughnessy". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  39. ^ "Stydahar Dropped as Coach of Rams; Pool, Former Assistant, Named to Succeed Mentor of 1951 Pro Football Champions". The New York Times. October 1, 1952. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  40. ^ "Joe Stydahar". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  41. ^ "Hamp Pool". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  42. ^ "Sid Gillman". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  43. ^ "Waterfield Quits As Coach of Rams". The New York Times. November 7, 1962. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  44. ^ "Bob Waterfield". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  45. ^ "Harland Svare". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  46. ^ "George Allen". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  47. ^ "Tommy Prothro". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  48. ^ a b "Chuck Knox". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  49. ^ "Ray Malavasi". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  50. ^ "John Robinson". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  51. ^ "Rich Brooks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  52. ^ "Dick Vermeil". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  53. ^ "Vermeil AP's Coach Of Year". CBS News. January 15, 2000. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  54. ^ "Maxwell Football Club——Professional Coach of the Year". Maxwell Football Club. Archived from the original on March 7, 2004. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  55. ^ "Mike Martz". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  56. ^ "Joe Vitt". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  57. ^ "Rams Fire Linehan; D-coordinator Haslett Tapped as Interim Coach". ESPN. September 29, 2008. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  58. ^ "Scott Linehan". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  59. ^ "Jim Haslett". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  60. ^ "Steve Spagnuolo". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  61. ^ Coppinger, MIke (December 12, 2016). "John Fassel Put on Spot in Unexpected Opportunity as Rams' Interim Coach". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  62. ^ "Jeff Fisher". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  63. ^ "John Fassel". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  64. ^ Brinson, Will (February 3, 2018). "2017 NFL Coach of the Year: Sean McVay Wins Award for His First-Year Rams Magic". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  65. ^ Marvez, Alex (January 24, 2018). "NFL Coaches Vote Sean McVay Sporting News Coach of the Year for 2017". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.

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