Matthew Stafford was the Rams' starting quarterback for every game of the 2021 NFL season, which was the same season the team won Super Bowl LVI.

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]

The early era of the NFL and American football in general was not conducive to passing the football, with the forward pass not being legalized until the early 1900s and not fully adopted for many more years.[7] Although the quarterback position has historically been the one to receive the snap and thus handle the football on every offensive play,[8] the importance of the position during this era was limited by various rules, like having to be five yards behind the line of scrimmage before a forward pass could be attempted.[9] These rules and the tactical focus on rushing the ball limited the importance of the quarterback position while enhancing the value of different types of backs, such as the halfback and the fullback.[10] Some of these backs were considered triple-threat men, capable of rushing, passing or kicking the football, making it common for multiple players to attempt a pass during a game.[11]

As rules changed and the NFL began adopting a more pass-centric approach to offensive football, the importance of the quarterback position grew.[9][10] Beginning in 1950, total wins and losses by a team's starting quarterback were tracked.[12] Throughout the late 20th century and early 21st century, the significance of the position has grown exponentially.[10] The modern starting quarterback is often viewed as the leader of the team and its player spokesperson.[8] The position is often the highest paid player on an NFL team's roster, with teams assigning significant resources in trying to draft, acquire or trade for a franchise quarterback.[13][14] These resources are based on the high expectations placed on the position, which include handling the ball on every offensive play (whether it be to pass the ball or hand it off to another player), relaying plays (or sometimes calling plays themselves) to the offense and understanding every teammate's role, formation and responsibility for every play.[8] The emergence of the dual-threat quarterback has also seen additional focus on the position, with quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen leading their team in both passing and rushing yards during any given game.[15]

Prior to 1950, the Rams had numerous players identified as playing the quarterback position, including Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Bob Waterfield.[16] However, the combination of unreliable statistics in the early era of the NFL and the differences in the early quarterback position make tracking starts by quarterbacks impractical for this timeframe. Since 1950 however, the Packers have had 57 starting quarterbacks in the history of their franchise.[17] Eight of those quarterbacks made over 50 starts, and three of them were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Norm Van Brocklin, Kurt Warner, and Waterfield. Joe Namath was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[17][18]

Starting quarterbacks

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Jared Goff had started for the team when healthy for five seasons (2016–20).
 
Nick Foles had started for eleven games in 2015, the team's final season in St. Louis.
 
Sam Bradford (2010–2013)
 
Marc Bulger (2002–2009)
 
Norm Van Brocklin (1950–1957)
Key
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Regular season

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Los Angeles/St. Louis starting quarterbacks in the regular season
Quarterback Seasons with
the Rams
Seasons with at least
one start as QB
Games
started
Record Refs
W L T %[a]
Terry Baker 196365 1963 1 0 1 0 .000 [20]
Tony Banks 199698 199698 43 14 29 0 .326 [21]
Steve Bartkowski 1986 1986 6 4 2 0 .667 [22]
Pete Beathard 197273 1972 2 0 1 1 .250 [23]
Brock Berlin 200708 2007 1 0 1 0 .000 [24]
Kyle Boller 2009 2009 4 0 4 0 .000 [25]
Steve Bono 1998 1998 2 0 2 0 .000 [26]
Sam Bradford 201014 201013 49 18 30 1 .378 [27]
Zeke Bratkowski 196163 196163 24 3 21 0 .125 [28]
Dieter Brock 1985 1985 15 11 4 0 .733 [29]
Marc Bulger 200009 200209 95 41 54 0 .432 [30]
Chris Chandler 1994, 04 1994, 04 8 2 6 0 .250 [31]
Kellen Clemens 201113 201113 12 4 8 0 .250 [32]
Scott Covington 200203 2002 1 0 1 0 1.000 [33]
Austin Davis 2012, 1314 2014 8 3 5 0 .375 [34]
Steve Dils 198487 198687 9 4 5 0 .444 [35]
Jim Everett 198693 198693 105 46 59 0 .438 [36]
A. J. Feeley 201011 2011 3 1 2 0 .333 [37]
Vince Ferragamo 197780, 8284 197980, 8284 44 26 18 0 .591 [38]
Ryan Fitzpatrick 200506 2005 3 0 3 0 .000 [39]
Nick Foles 2015 2015 11 4 7 0 .364 [40]
Gus Frerotte 200607 2007 3 1 2 0 .333 [41]
Roman Gabriel 196272 196272 119 74 39 6 .647 [42]
Jared Goff 201620 201620 69 42 27 0 .609 [43]
Trent Green 19992000, 08 2000, 08 6 2 4 0 .333 [44]
Pat Haden 197681 197681 55 35 19 1 .645 [45]
John Hadl 197374 197384 19 15 4 0 .789 [46]
James Harris 197376 197476 27 21 6 0 .778 [47]
Shaun Hill 2014 2014 8 3 5 0 .375 [48]
Buddy Humphrey 195960 1960 1 0 1 0 .000 [49]
Ron Jaworski 197376 197576 3 3 0 0 1.000 [50]
Bert Jones 1982 1982 4 1 3 0 .250 [51]
Case Keenum 201516 201516 14 7 7 0 .222 [52]
Jeff Kemp 198185 198485 14 9 5 0 .643 [53]
Sean Mannion 201518 2017 1 0 1 0 .000 [54]
Jamie Martin 199396, 0102, 0405 2002, 05 7 4 3 0 .571 [55]
Baker Mayfield 2022 2022 4 1 3 0 .250 [56]
Chris Miller 199495 199495 23 9 14 0 .432 [57]
Ron Miller 1962 1962 1 0 1 0 .000 [58]
Bill Munson 196467 196465 18 3 13 2 .222 [59]
Joe Namath 1977 1977 4 2 2 0 .500 [60][61]
Keith Null 2009 2009 4 0 4 0 .000 [62]
Dan Pastorini 1981 1981 5 1 4 0 .200 [63]
Bryce Perkins 202022 2022 1 0 1 0 .000 [64]
T. J. Rubley 199395 1993 7 2 5 0 .286 [65]
Jeff Rutledge 197982 1979 1 0 1 1 .250 [66]
Frank Ryan 195861 195961 11 5 5 1 .500 [67]
Brett Rypien 2023 2023 1 0 1 0 .000 [68]
Mark Rypien 1995 1995 3 0 3 0 .000 [69]
Matthew Stafford 202123 202123 41 24 17 0 .585 [70]
Norm Van Brocklin 194957 195057 65 42 20 3 .669 [71][72]
Bill Wade 195460 1954, 56, 5860 36 13 23 0 .361 [73]
Steve Walsh 1996 1996 3 1 2 0 .333 [74]
Kurt Warner 19982003 19992003 50 35 15 0 .700 [75][76]
Bob Waterfield 194552 194552 57 14[b] 8[b] 0[b] .636[b] [77][78]
Carson Wentz 2023 2023 1 1 0 0 1.000 [79]
John Wolford 201922 2020, 22 4 2 2 0 .500 [80]

Postseason

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Kurt Warner led the team to a win in Super Bowl XXXIV at the end of the 1999 season and earned both the NFL Most Valuable Player Award and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award for the season.
Green Bay Packers starting quarterbacks in the postseason
Quarterback Seasons with
the Packers
Seasons with at least
one start as QB
Games
started
Record Refs
W L %[a]
Marc Bulger 200209 200304 3 1 2 .333 [30]
Vince Ferragamo 197780, 8284 197980, 83 6 3 3 .500 [38]
Roman Gabriel 196272 1967, 69 2 0 2 .000 [42]
Jared Goff 201620 201718, 20 5 2 3 .400 [43]
Pat Haden 197681 197678 5 2 3 .400 [45]
John Hadl 197374 1973 1 0 1 .000 [46]
James Harris 197376 197475 3 1 2 .333 [47]
Ron Jaworski 197376 1975 1 1 0 1.000 [50]
Jeff Kemp 198185 1984 1 0 1 .000 [53]
Matthew Stafford 202123 2021, 23 5 4 1 .800 [70]
Norm Van Brocklin 194957 1952, 55 2 0 2 .524 [71][72]
Kurt Warner 19982003 19992001 7 5 2 .714 [75][76]
Bob Waterfield 19501951 195051 2[b] 1[b] 1[b] .500 [77][78]
John Wolford 201922 2020 1 0 0 1.000 [80]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Winning percentage is determined by dividing total wins by total games started, with ties counting as one-half win.[19]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Waterfield's win-loss record only accounts for seasons he played starting in 1950, the year in which the NFL began recording said statistic for starting quarterbacks.

References

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  1. ^ "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. ^ "Passing Through Time, a 1930s Rule Change Started the NFL on its Way to Wide Open Offense". Pro Football Hall of Fame. July 31, 2018. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Rumpff, Tim (director) (July 12, 2023). Quarterback (Television show). Netflix. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Bent but not Broken". NFL. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Hogg, Curt (December 24, 2009). "5 Wide: The Evolution Of The Quarterback". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Christl, Cliff. "Paul Hornung". Green Bay Packers. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "Los Angeles Rams Single-Season Passing Leaders". Pro Football Reference.
  13. ^ "Highest-paid NFL players: Tracking most money guaranteed, per year at every position". ESPN.com. March 6, 2024. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Laughlin, Alex (November 14, 2023). "The Cost (and Dangers) of Buying a Quarterback". University of California, Berkeley. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Epstein, Jori (January 26, 2024). "How Josh Allen helped Chiefs prepare for '3D' threat in Ravens' Lamar Jackson". Yahoo.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "Robert (Bob) Waterfield". Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Los Angeles Rams Career Passing Leaders". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  18. ^ "Los Angeles Rams". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  19. ^ "NFL Tie-Breaking Procedures". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  20. ^ "Terry Baker Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  21. ^ "Tony Banks Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  22. ^ "Steve Bartkowski Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "Pete Beathard Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  24. ^ "Brock Berlin Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  25. ^ "Kyle Boller Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  26. ^ "Steve Bono Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  27. ^ "Sam Bradford Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  28. ^ "Tony Banks Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  29. ^ "Dieter Brock Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Marc Bulger Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  31. ^ "Chris Chandler Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  32. ^ "Kellen Clemens Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  33. ^ "Scott Covington Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  34. ^ "Austin Davis Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  35. ^ "Steve Dils Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  36. ^ "Jim Everett Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  37. ^ "A. J. Feeley Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Vince Ferragamo Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  39. ^ "Ryan Fitzpatrick Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  40. ^ "Nick Foles Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  41. ^ "Gus Frerotte Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  42. ^ a b "Roman Gabriel Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  43. ^ a b "Jared Goff Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  44. ^ "Trent Green Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  45. ^ a b "Pat Haden Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  46. ^ a b "John Hadl Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  47. ^ a b "James Harris Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  48. ^ "Shaun Hill Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  49. ^ "Buddy Humphrey Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  50. ^ a b "Ron Jaworski Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  51. ^ "Bert Jones Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  52. ^ "Case Keenum Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  53. ^ a b "Jeff Kemp Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  54. ^ "Sean Mannion Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  55. ^ "Jamie Martin Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  56. ^ "Baker Mayfield". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  57. ^ "Chris Miller Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  58. ^ "Ron Miller Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  59. ^ "Bill Munson Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  60. ^ "Joe Namath Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  61. ^ "Joe Namath". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  62. ^ "Keith Null Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  63. ^ "Dan Pastorini Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  64. ^ "Bryce Perkins Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  65. ^ "T. J. Rubley Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  66. ^ "Jeff Rutledge Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  67. ^ "Frank Ryan Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  68. ^ "Brett Rypien Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  69. ^ "Mark Rypien Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  70. ^ a b "Matthew Stafford Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  71. ^ a b "Norm Van Brocklin Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  72. ^ a b "Norm Van Brocklin". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  73. ^ "Bill Wade Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  74. ^ "Steve Walsh Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  75. ^ a b "Kurt Warner Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  76. ^ a b "Kurt Warner". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  77. ^ a b "Bob Waterfield Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  78. ^ a b "Bob Waterfield". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  79. ^ "Carson Wentz Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  80. ^ a b "John Wolford Stats". Pro-Fotball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.