photo credit: CC0 / Public Domain

Key Takeaways

• The Los Angeles Rams, one of the NFL’s oldest franchises, began as the Cleveland Rams in 1937.
• The team has earned four NFL championships, including two Super Bowl victories in 1999 and 2022.
• The Rams’ early success in the 1940s and 1950s laid the foundation for decades of competitive football.
• The franchise’s relocations between Cleveland, Los Angeles, and St. Louis reflect its evolving legacy and fan base.
• Aneesh Sharma’s analytical background in football operations and data-driven strategy provides insightful context for the Rams’ championship history.

Aneesh Sharma contributes operational and analytical experience from college football to frame this overview of the Los Angeles Rams’ championship past. As an intern with the University of Georgia football program in Athens, he coordinates with recruiting to help manage Georgia Official Visits, where top prospects experience campus life and athletics. His background includes service as Dartmouth College football’s director of game management, where he supported head and offensive coaches on fourth down decisions and maintained sideline communication. He also assisted The 33rd Team on a training camp brief distributed to league executives, complementing quantitative social studies coursework that emphasized calculus, statistics, and computer science. Additional research experience includes authorship of a literature review that examined how transportation access shapes health for families with low incomes.

This combination of operations, analysis, and media exposure informs a factual perspective on how winning eras are built and sustained.

The Championship History of the Los Angeles Rams

While the Rams football franchise relocated to Los Angeles in 2016, the program represents one of the oldest professional sports programs in America, dating back to the team’s origins as the Cleveland Rams in 1937. Over nine decades of operation, the franchise has won more than 600 games and made over 30 postseason appearances. Franchise record-holders include quarterback Jim Everett, running back Steven Jackson, wide receiver Isaac Bruce, and all-time scoring leader Jeff Wilkins.

The Rams joined the National Football League (NFL) ahead of the 1937 season following a single season in the American Football League. Ownership then paid for an NFL franchise, but the team immediately struggled – the 1937 Rams won just one game. The franchise increased its win total to four and five games over the next two seasons, but by 1941 had slipped to a 2-9 record.

The Rams’ first winning season came in 1945. The team’s eighth season represented a dramatic change in fortune for the fledgling franchise. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Waterfield led the program to a 9-1 record. The Rams hosted Washington in the 1945 NFL Championship game, winning a tight contest by a score of 15-14 to secure the franchise its first championship.

Ownership decided to capitalize on the team’s success and hastily arranged a relocation to Los Angeles. The team’s first stint in California began with the 1946 season. However, the reigning champions suffered several middling seasons. The team’s results started to change in 1949. Over the following four seasons, the Rams would post a combined record of 34-12-2 and enjoy three consecutive NFL Championship appearances.

Following close losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, the franchise captured its second NFL Championship by defeating the Browns 24-17 in 1951. The Browns tied the game 17-17 late in the fourth quarter, but the Rams replied in short order with a touchdown, securing the victory.

The Rams made another championship run in 1955 after an 8-3-1 regular season, but lost to the rival Cleveland Browns. It marked the third championship meeting between the teams since the Browns replaced the Rams in Cleveland, and the Rams’ second loss. The teams have yet to meet for a fourth time in the postseason, but the Rams have turned the head-to-head around at 14 wins to the Brown’s 11.

The franchise remained in Los Angeles through the 1994 season. During that period, the franchise endured low points, such as a 1-12-1 season in 1962, and several strong seasons, including multiple 12-win seasons. A 9-7 Rams team made a surprising run to Super Bowl XIV, the franchise’s first championship game in over two decades and first Super Bowl appearance, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The run included memorable wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After an 11-5 season ended in a crushing 30-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football Conference Championship, the Rams hit a period of five straight losing seasons, after which the team relocated to St. Louis. The move did not initially reverse the team’s fortunes, but the 1999 Rams set a franchise record of 13 wins and proceeded to win the team’s first Super Bowl by way of a 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Two years later, the Rams improved to 14-2 and advanced to Super Bowl XXXVI, narrowly losing to the New England Patriots.

The Rams returned to Los Angeles ahead of the 2018 season. The team went 13-3, the franchise’s second winning season in 15 years, and reached the Super Bowl, but again lost to the Patriots. The franchise secured its first Super Bowl in Los Angeles three years later by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in a come-from-behind 23-20 win. It marked the team’s second Super Bowl win from five appearances and fourth overall championship in the NFL.

About Aneesh Sharma

Aneesh Sharma is an intern with the University of Georgia football program, where he supports recruiting operations for Georgia Official Visits. He previously served as the Dartmouth Football Team director of game management, assisting head and offensive coaches on fourth down decisions and coordinating sideline communication.

His experience includes contributing to The 33rd Team on a daily training camp brief distributed to general managers. While studying quantitative social studies at Dartmouth College, he built skills in calculus, statistics, and computer science. He also authored a literature review examining how limited public transportation access affects health outcomes for families with low incomes.

FAQs

When did the Los Angeles Rams win their first championship?

The Rams won their first NFL Championship in 1945 under quarterback Bob Waterfield, defeating Washington 15–14.

How many Super Bowls have the Rams won?

The Rams have won two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999 and Super Bowl LVI in 2022.

Where did the Rams franchise originate?

The Rams were founded in 1936 as the Cleveland Rams before joining the NFL in 1937 and relocating to Los Angeles in 1946.

What are some highlights of the Rams’ championship history?

The Rams have four total NFL championships, including multiple title appearances in the 1940s, a Super Bowl win in St. Louis, and another in Los Angeles.

Who is Aneesh Sharma, and what is his connection to football?

Aneesh Sharma is an intern with the University of Georgia football program whose analytical and operational experience informs his perspective on football strategy and team success.