1994 Los Angeles Rams season

The 1994 Los Angeles Rams season was the franchise's 57th season in the National Football League, their 58th overall, and their 49th and final in the Greater Los Angeles Area until their 2016 relocation back to Los Angeles. After nearly 50 years in the Greater Los Angeles Area, including 15 seasons at Anaheim Stadium, owner Georgia Frontiere announced that the team would relocate to St. Louis, Missouri on January 15, 1995. While the owners initially rejected the move, permission was eventually granted therefore bringing an end to Southern California's first major professional sports franchise until 2016.[1]

1994 Los Angeles Rams season
OwnerGeorgia Frontiere
General managerJohn Shaw
Head coachChuck Knox
Home fieldAnaheim Stadium
(since 1980)
Local radioKMPC (710 AM)
Results
Record4–12
Division place4th NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersJerome Bettis, RB
Uniform

The threat of relocation dominated talk about the Rams from early in the offseason right up to the moment the move was announced and it had a major effect on the franchise's standing in the market.[2] Average attendance for Rams games at Anaheim Stadium was at an all-time low (an average of 43,312 a game) as ownership negotiated with both Baltimore and St. Louis. Leigh Steinberg organized a group known as “Save the Rams” and attempted to reach out to ownership and strike a deal to keep the team in the Southern California market, however, their efforts proved to be unsuccessful.[3]

On the field, the Rams continued their downward spiral and missed the postseason for the fifth consecutive season. Los Angeles only won four games and clinched their fifth losing season in a row on December 4 against the New Orleans Saints and finished the season on a seven-game losing streak. The Rams defense saw some glimmers of hope, shutting out Joe Montana’s Chiefs and putting together solid performances against Arizona and New York, but it was not nearly enough to lift the Rams back to the .500 mark. At the end of the season, head coach Chuck Knox was fired after three consecutive last place finishes in the NFC West and Frontiere also relieved John Shaw of his General Manager duties, although he remained with the team as a high-ranking executive.

Offseason

1994 Draft Class
Main article: 1994 NFL Draft
1994 Los Angeles Rams Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
115 Wayne GandyTackleAuburn
233 Isaac BruceWide receiverMemphis
49 Toby WrightSafetyNebraska
56 Brad OttisDefensive endWayne State
371 Keith LyleSafetyVirginia
83 James BosticRunning backAuburn
100 Ernest JonesLinebackerOregon
4108 Chris BrantleyWide receiverRutgers
6167 Rickey BradyTight endOklahoma
189 Ronald EdwardsTackleNorth Carolina A&T

Undrafted free agents
1994 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
D'Marco Farr Defensive tackle Washington

Personnel

Team roster
1994 Los Angeles Rams roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 33 James Bostic RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 80 Isaac Bruce WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 89 Richard Buchanan WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 75 D'Marco Farr DT (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 50 Ernest Jones DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 64 Keith Loneker G (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad

  • 68 Brad Fichtel C
  • —- Tony Harrison WR
  • -- Roosevelt Patterson G

53 active, 6 inactive, 3 practice squad


Rookies in italics

[4]

Staff
1994 Los Angeles Rams staff
Front office
  • Owner/president – Georgia Frontiere
  • Executive vice-president – John Shaw
  • Senior vice-president – Jay Zygmunt
  • Administrator of football operations – Jack Faulkner
  • Director of player personnel – John Becker

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator/running backs – Chick Harris
  • Quarterbacks – Mike Martz
  • Wide receivers – Steve Moore
  • Tight ends – Rennie Simmons
  • Offensive line – Jim Erkenbeck
  • Offensive assistant – Chuck Knox Jr.
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/defensive line – George Dyer
  • Linebackers – Dick Selcer
  • Defensive backs – Rod Perry
  • Defensive assistant – Greg Gaines

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Wayne Sevier

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Chris Clausen

Preseason

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 6 at Green Bay Packers L 6–14 0–1 Camp Randall Stadium Recap
2 August 13 New England Patriots L 10–28 0–2 Anaheim Stadium Recap
3 August 20 Los Angeles Raiders L 20–29 0–3 Anaheim Stadium Recap
4 August 25 at San Diego Chargers L 6–24 0–4 Jack Murphy Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 4 Arizona Cardinals W 14–12 1–0 Anaheim Stadium Recap
2 September 11 at Atlanta Falcons L 13–31 1–1 Georgia Dome Recap
3 September 18 San Francisco 49ers L 19–34 1–2 Anaheim Stadium Recap
4 September 25 at Kansas City Chiefs W 16–0 2–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
5 October 2 Atlanta Falcons L 5–8 2–3 Anaheim Stadium Recap
6 October 9 at Green Bay Packers L 17–24 2–4 Lambeau Field Recap
7 October 16 New York Giants W 17–10 3–4 Anaheim Stadium Recap
8 October 23 at New Orleans Saints L 34–37 3–5 Louisiana Superdome Recap
9 Bye
10 November 6 Denver Broncos W 27–21 4–5 Anaheim Stadium Recap
11 November 13 Los Angeles Raiders L 17–20 4–6 Anaheim Stadium Recap
12 November 20 at San Francisco 49ers L 27–31 4–7 Candlestick Park Recap
13 November 27 at San Diego Chargers L 17–31 4–8 Jack Murphy Stadium Recap
14 December 4 New Orleans Saints L 15–31 4–9 Anaheim Stadium Recap
15 December 11 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–24 4–10 Tampa Stadium Recap
16 December 18 at Chicago Bears L 13–27 4–11 Soldier Field Recap
17 December 24 Washington Redskins L 21–24 4–12 Anaheim Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1
Week One: Arizona Cardinals (0–0) at Los Angeles Rams (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 6 6012
Rams 7 0 7014

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Week 2
Week Two: Los Angeles Rams (1–0) at Atlanta Falcons (0–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 7 0613
Falcons 14 3 7731

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Game information

Week 3
Week Three: San Francisco 49ers (1–1) at Los Angeles Rams (1–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 10 7 31434
Rams 7 3 0919

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Week 4
Week Four: Los Angeles Rams (1–2) at Kansas City Chiefs (3–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 13 0 3016
Chiefs 0 0 000

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 5
Week Five: Atlanta Falcons (2–2) at Los Angeles Rams (2–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 0 088
Rams 0 2 305

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Week 6
Week Six: Los Angeles Rams (2–3) at Green Bay Packers (2–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 10 0017
Packers 3 0 14724

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 7
Week Seven: New York Giants (3–2) at Los Angeles Rams (3–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 3 0010
Rams 14 3 0017

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Week 8
Week Eight: Los Angeles Rams (3–4) at New Orleans Saints (2–5)
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 17 31434
Saints 14 13 10037

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans

Game information

Week 10
Week Ten: Denver Broncos (3–5) at Los Angeles Rams (3–5)
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 3 31521
Rams 7 10 7327

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Week 11

The final meeting between the two Southern California rivals ended in a close 20–17 victory for the Raiders in Anaheim. The Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Raiders only met five times as cross-town rivals with the Rams finishing with a 1–4 record against the Raiders. The games, however, were generally very close with only one of the meetings being decided by more than one score (the Raiders' 16–6 victory in 1985). The 1994 meeting was a back and forth affair that eventually saw the Raiders ice the game away with a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter.

Week Eleven: Los Angeles Raiders (4–5) at Los Angeles Rams (4–5)
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 7 7 0620
Rams 7 0 01017

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Week 12

This was the last meeting between the Rams and 49ers as California rivals until 2016 and it ended with the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers on top with a 31–27 final. While the meeting between the two rivals in Anaheim was not very close, the 1994 meeting at Candlestick Park was a very close affair to close out the Los Angeles-San Francisco rivalry. The 49ers jumped out to an early 14–3 lead and held a 21–6 lead at halftime, the Rams, however, came storming back in the second half, outscoring San Francisco 21–10. Los Angeles was able to take the lead in the fourth quarter on a 22-yard pass play by Chris Miller, but the 49ers responded with a touchdown drive of their own to take a 31–27 advantage. The 49ers ended up holding on for their ninth win of the season while the Rams dropped their seventh game en route to a 4–12 season. The final record between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers from the 1950 to 1994 was 48–40 in favor of Los Angeles.

Week Twelve: Los Angeles Rams (4–6) at San Francisco 49ers (8–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 3 3 13827
49ers 14 7 3731

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

Game information

Week 13

Week thirteen saw the final meeting between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers. The Rams jumped out to a 14–6 lead in the first half, but Los Angeles was unable to hold off the eventual AFC Champion Chargers and fell 31–17. After the season, the Chargers ended up having the entire Southern California megaregion to themselves after the Rams and the Raiders vacated the Los Angeles market—an arrangement that would not be changed until 2016, when the Rams relocated to Los Angeles. Los Angeles was also mathematically eliminated from the NFC West race during week 13 after its loss to San Diego and with San Francisco improving to 8–2 on the next day on Monday Night Football.

Week Thirteen: Los Angeles Rams (4–7) at San Diego Chargers (8–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 14 0317
Chargers 0 6 151031

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego

Game information

Week 14
Week Fourteen: New Orleans Saints (4–8) at Los Angeles Rams (4–8)
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 21 3031
Rams 0 7 0815

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Week 15

In front of a sparse crowd of around 34,000 at Tampa Stadium, Los Angeles dropped its fifth game in a row and in the process became mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season. The game was fairly evenly matched (both were 4–9 going into the game) except for a 17-point outburst in the second quarter by the Buccaneers that gave Tampa Bay the victory.

Week Fifteen: Los Angeles Rams (4–9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4–9)
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 7 0714
Buccaneers 0 17 0724

at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

Week 16
Week Sixteen: Los Angeles Rams (4–10) at Chicago Bears (8–6)
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 3 0313
Bears 3 14 3727

at Soldier Field, Chicago

Game information

Week 17

In front of the smallest crowd at Anaheim Stadium, the Rams closed out their tenure in Southern California with a loss to the 2–13 Washington Redskins. After a season full of rumors of the franchise’s inevitable relocation, the fan base had withered down to next to nothing and two high school football games at Anaheim Stadium drew larger crowds than the announced attendance for the Rams’ week 17 game. Many fans spent the game chanting expletives and hurling insults and owner Georgia Frontiere and the City of St. Louis—“Save the Rams” founder Leigh Steinberg attempted to discuss keeping the Rams in Southern California, but Rams executives were nowhere to be found. The game was a close affair with the hapless Washington Redskins and despite being favored by 3.5 points, Los Angeles ended up falling by three points to end 49 seasons of Los Angeles Ram football. They would subsequently return to Los Angeles in 2016 after experiencing similar issues in St. Louis as they previously did in Los Angeles.[5]

Week Seventeen: Washington Redskins (2–13) at Los Angeles Rams (4–11)
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 17 7024
Rams 7 14 0021

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Standings
NFC West
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) San Francisco 49ers 13 3 0 .813 505 296 L1
New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 348 407 W1
Atlanta Falcons 7 9 0 .438 317 385 W1
Los Angeles Rams 4 12 0 .250 286 365 L7

Relocation to St. Louis

By 1994, the Los Angeles Rams had withered to a mere shadow of their former self. Accusations and excuses were constantly thrown back and forth between the Rams’ fan base, ownership, and local politicians. Many in the fan base blamed the ownership of Georgia Frontiere for the franchise’s woes, while ownership cited the outdated stadium and withering fan support for the problems that were plaguing the Rams. On March 15, 1994, the National Football League owners rejected Ms. Frontiere’s bid to move the franchise to St. Louis, Missouri, her native city, by a 21–3–6 vote, with the Raiders abstaining. Then-Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stated after rejecting the move that

This was one of the most complex issues we have had to approach in years. We had to balance the interest of fans in Los Angeles and in St. Louis that we appreciate very much. In my judgment, they did not meet the guidelines we have in place for such a move.

The commissioner also added:

Once the bridges have been burned and people get turned off on a sports franchise, years of loyalty is not respected and it is difficult to get it back. By the same token, there are millions of fans in that area who have supported the Rams in an extraordinary way. The Rams have 50 years of history and the last 5 or so years of difficult times can be corrected.[6][7]

Frontiere, however, responded with a thinly veiled threat at a lawsuit and the NFL owners eventually acquiesced to her demands, weary of going through a long, protracted legal battle. Tagliabue simply stated that “The desire to have peace and not be at war was a big factor” in allowing the Rams move to go forward. In a matter of a month, the vote had gone from 21–6 opposed to 23–6 in favor, with the Raiders again abstaining. Jonathan Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, elaborated on the commissioners remarks by saying “About five or six owners didn’t want to get the other owners into litigation, so they switched their votes.” Only six teams remained in opposition to the Rams move from Los Angeles: the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals (who played in St. Louis from 1960–87), and Washington Redskins. After the vote was over, Dan Rooney publicly stated that he opposed the move of the Los Angeles Rams because

I believe we should support the fans who have supported us for years.[8]

See also

References
  1. Simers, T.J. (January 15, 1995). "Despite Regrets, Owner Says Rams Leaving". Los Angeles Times.
  2. "Rams moving closer to St. Louis". Baltimore Sun.
  3. Friend, Tom (December 22, 1994). "PRO FOOTBALL; A Farewell to Tinsel Town". The New York Times.
  4. "1994 Los Angeles Rams starters, roster, and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  5. Digiovanna, Mike (December 25, 1994). "It Was Sad Day at the Big A for Rams Fans". Los Angeles Times.
  6. George, Thomas (March 16, 1993). "PRO FOOTBALL; N.F.L. Owners Reject Rams' Bid to Move To St. Louis". The New York Times.
  7. Simers, T.J.; Plaschke, Bill (March 16, 1994). "League Owners Reject Rams' Move to St. Louis". Los Angeles Times.
  8. Simers, T.J. (April 13, 1994). "NFL Owners OK Rams' Move to St. Louis". Los Angeles Times.
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