Los Angeles Rams (formerly St. Louis Rams)

The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football franchise in the National Football League (NFL). The team was known as the St. Louis Rams before relocating to Los Angeles, completing the move in 2016. The franchise’s earlier history in St. Louis was marked by multiple playoff appearances and a subsequent return to contention in the 2010s under coach Jeff Fisher.

Franchise origins and identity

The franchise that became the Rams began as part of the NFL’s expansion in Los Angeles and later moved to St. Louis, where it was known as the St. Louis Rams. Over time, the team developed a distinct identity centered on its coaching staff, draft classes, and home-market fan base. By the early 2010s, the Rams were competing regularly in the NFC and building toward a sustained stretch of roster improvements.

In St. Louis, the Rams played their games at Edward Jones Dome, a venue that became closely associated with the team’s late-twentieth and early-twenty-first-century era. The franchise’s presence in the Gateway City also shaped local sports culture, with the Rams serving as a central NFL identity for the region.

Relocation to Los Angeles

In 2016, the Rams relocated from St. Louis to Los Angeles, reestablishing an NFL presence in the city after earlier eras of Los Angeles football. The move was widely reported as part of broader NFL stadium and market dynamics, and it placed the franchise back in one of the league’s largest media markets. After the relocation, the team’s branding aligned with Los Angeles, while the club’s organizational continuity remained the same.

During the Los Angeles transition, the Rams initially played at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before moving to a long-term stadium plan. The franchise later began playing in SoFi Stadium, which opened as a modern venue for the team’s home schedule. The relocated club continued to compete within the NFL’s NFC West division, alongside longtime rivals.

Building success in the modern era

Following the move, the Rams entered a period of aggressive roster construction and coaching changes that culminated in championship contention. Under coach Sean McVay, the franchise developed a high-tempo offensive identity and strengthened its overall play during the 2010s. McVay’s coaching tenure is often associated with the Rams’ rise from competitive instability to consistent postseason-level performance.

Key players included Jared Goff at quarterback during the team’s championship run and Aaron Donald on defense, whose impact helped anchor the Rams’ interior pressure. The team ultimately captured Super Bowl LVI, solidifying the franchise’s Los Angeles era as a major success.

Stadiums, fan base, and media impact

The transition from St. Louis to Los Angeles changed the Rams’ operating environment, including media coverage, sponsorship activity, and the scale of the team’s fan outreach. In St. Louis, the Rams’ home-field atmosphere had developed around the rhythm of domed football, while Los Angeles introduced a different sports-market landscape shaped by large venues and competing entertainment options.

The move also influenced the team’s day-to-day presentation, including branding and game-day production. With a new stadium footprint—first at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and later at SoFi Stadium—the franchise adapted to a modern infrastructure built for global broadcast audiences.

Legacy of the St. Louis years

Although the team now competes as the Los Angeles Rams, the St. Louis era remains a significant part of the franchise’s historical record. The Rams’ time in Missouri is associated with sustained seasons of competitiveness and recognizable coaching leadership, including the later stages of the Jeff Fisher era. Fans and historians often treat the St. Louis period as a bridge between the franchise’s earlier Los Angeles roots and its current championship-era profile.

The franchise’s continuity means that records, alumni, and institutional memory connect the St. Louis Rams era to the Los Angeles Rams era. As a result, the club’s history is frequently discussed as one lineage across two markets—St. Louis and Los Angeles—within the broader narrative of NFL relocation and modern stadium economics.

See also

• St. Louis Rams
• Los Angeles Rams
• Super Bowl LVI
• SoFi Stadium
• Edward Jones Dome

Categories: Los Angeles Rams, NFL teams, American football franchises, St. Louis Rams