James David Lofton is an American former professional football player and coach. He played in the National Football League (NFL) as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers (1978–1986), Los Angeles Raiders (1987–1988), the Buffalo Bills (1989–1992), Los Angeles Rams (1993) and Philadelphia Eagles (1993). He was also the NCAA champion in the long jump in 1978 while attending Stanford University.
Eric Demetric Dickerson is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. Dickerson played college football for the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University and was recognized as an All-American. He was selected second overall in the 1983 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams, and later played for the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons. During his NFL career, he rushed for over 13,000 yards. He holds the NFL's single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards, set in 1984. Dickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and, in 2019, was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time. He wore prescription goggles throughout his career due to myopia.
Gregory Leon Bell is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders, from 1984 to 1990.
Jackie Ray Slater, nicknamed "Big Bad Jackie", is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire career with the Rams franchise: 19 seasons in Los Angeles, from 1976 to 1994, and one in St. Louis in 1995. Slater holds the record amongst all offensive linemen who have played the most seasons with one franchise.
Gaston Alfred Green III is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Raiders. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, twice earning All-American honors.
Gregory Townsend Sr. is an American former professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Long Beach City before transferring to TCU and was selected by the Los Angeles Raiders in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Joseph Winston Kelly, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for six different teams. He played college football for the Washington Huskies under head coach Don James and was team's MVP as a senior in 1985. In his junior season in 1984, the Huskies finished second in the polls after upsetting Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
Mel Tyrae Owens is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft. He compiled 26.5 quarterback sacks.
The 1987 Los Angeles Rams season was the franchise's strike shortened 50th season in the National Football League, their 51st overall, and their 42nd in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The season saw the Rams attempting to improve on their 10–6 record from 1986 and make the playoffs for the 5th straight season. However, the Rams struggled right out the gate. In their first 2 games against the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings, the Rams had 4th quarter leads and blew them. They led 13–0 in the 4th quarter at Houston and lost 20–16, while they led 16–14 at home against Minnesota and lost 21–16. The next week, a strike occurred which wiped out all week 3 games. As a result, their game at home against the Cincinnati Bengals was canceled. One week later, the Rams were thumped by the Saints 37–10 to start the season 0–3, their first such start since 1982, which was, ironically, also a season that saw a strike take place. The Rams finally got in the win column the next week, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers at home, 31–21. However, the next week in Atlanta, the Rams lost another big lead, this time after leading 17–0 at halftime and 20–7 in the 4th quarter. This was followed by embarrassing losses to the Cleveland Browns (30–17), the arch-rival San Francisco 49ers (31–10), and the Saints again (31–14) to drop to 1–7, their worst start since 1965, when they started 1–9. However, the Rams then caught fire, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis, 27–24, after trailing 24–14 in the 3rd quarter. The next week in Washington, the Rams outlasted the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football 30–26, and it appeared as though the Rams were poised to get back in the playoff race. The win over Washington was followed by blowout wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (35–3), Detroit Lions (37–6), and Atlanta Falcons (33–0) and the Rams were looking to make an improbable in-season turnaround. However, the next week against the Dallas Cowboys, the Rams lost 29–21 to eliminate them from the playoffs. The season ended with the Rams getting pummeled by the 49ers on the road, 48–0. Ultimately, the Rams finished the strike-shortened season 6–9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
The 1983 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 46th year with the National Football League and the 38th season in the city of Los Angeles. The franchise drafted a future Hall of Fame Running Back in Eric Dickerson. The season saw the team attempt to improve on its 2–7 record from 1982. The team started out 5–2 before splitting their next 4 games and then lost at home to Washington to sit at 7–5. They would split their last 4 games to finish 9–7 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1980 after a 2-year absence. In the playoffs, they defeated the Cowboys 24–17 in Dallas to advance to the divisional round. However, in the game, the Rams were annihilated 51–7 by the Redskins, who would move on to the Super Bowl, only to lose to the other Los Angeles NFL team, the Los Angeles Raiders, 38–9.
Norwood Vann is a former American football player who played five NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders in the early 1980s.
James Ray Jones was an American football defensive back who played one season with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1958 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Washington. Jones was also a member of the BC Lions and Oakland Raiders.
Thomas Albert Witcher is a former American football linebacker who played one season with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the thirteenth round of the 1959 NFL Draft. He was also drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 1960 AFL Draft. Witcher played college football at Baylor University and attended Lampasas High School in Lampasas, Texas.
The Los Angeles Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994 before relocating back to Oakland, California, where the team played from its inaugural 1960 season to the 1981 season and then again from 1995 to 2019.
Taylor Michael Rapp is an American football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington, and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Micah Kiser is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Virginia, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Denver Broncos.
Kenneth Kim Young is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at UCLA, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has also previously played for the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos.
John Franklin-Myers is an American football defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stephen F. Austin.
Bruce Donald Klostermann is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Dakota State.
Bennett William Skowronek is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwestern and Notre Dame, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
