The Los Angeles Rams have a storied history with decades of impactful moments and impressive wins, especially over the course of the last 20 years. With multiple Super Bowl appearances and NFC titles ultimately culminating in just one, though, memorable, Super Bowl win, the Rams have had more than a few talented players suit up in both Los Angeles and St. Louis.
While the Rams have drafted well over the years in addition to acquiring numerous high-caliber players via trade, it has been a handful of free agent signings that stand out among the rest. Without the five most notable free agent signings in franchise history, the legacy of this football team would no doubt be much different today. Although not every player had the same impact over the course of their Rams tenure, each certainly helped carve out a distinct path and place in franchise history.
Despite the fact that the Rams have only managed one Super Bowl title, which came back in 1999, the NFC West franchise has continued to serve as a successful organization for quite some time. A perennial playoff team and legitimate threat year after year, the Rams have had quite a few great players walk through their doors with the 2020-21 campaign currently looming.
Adam Timmerman, OL
After spending four seasons as a member of another heralded NFC franchise in the Green Bay Packers, veteran offensive lineman Adam Timmerman then made his way to the then St. Louis Rams back in 1999. In addition to blocking up front and protecting the team's most important player en route to helping the Rams to the team's first and only Super Bowl title in his initial go-round in St. Louis, Timmerman notanly reached the Pro Bowl in both 1999 and 2001. Timmerman went on to start 125 of his 128 appearances as a member of the Rams, mostly at the right guard position, while going on to spent a total of eight strong seasons with the NFC West franchise.
Andrew Whitworth, OL
Despite spending a decade as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals while stringing together a stellar playing career highlighted by a trio of Pro Bowl appearances, it was time for veteran offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth to move on to bigger and better things in March 2017.
Initially signing a three-year free agent contract, Whitworth immediately served as a leader in the locker room. That's in addition to proving his worth on the field right off the bat. In his first season as a member of the Rams, Whitworth led Los Angeles to a NFC Championship and an appearance in the Super Bowl. It al coincided with his fourth career Pro Bowl appearance and a No. 87 ranking on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018 list. It is also worth noting that the seasoned blocker just recently signed another three-year deal with the Rams as well. The now 38-year-old Whitworth should continue to serve as a staple of the Los Angeles-based organization for quite sometime.
Mike Jones, LB
This one is pretty simple. Without former Oakland Raiders linebacker Mike Jones on the field, the St. Louis Rams don't win the team's lone Super Bowl title. Period. While certainly serving as one of the stronger tacklers on the team back in 1999, Jones strung together a solid tenure with the Rams. He started 62 of a possible 64 regular season games and averaged 63 solo tackles per season between 1997 and 2000. However, it was that 1999 campaign that earned Jones free drinks in the city of St. Louis for the rest of his life. Jones infamously recorded “the tackle” upon tackling Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson at the one-yard line to win the title for the Rams, 23-16.
Ricky Proehl, WR
Although a journeyman that often got lost in the shuffle, veteran NFL wide receiver Ricky Proehl spent five solid seasons as a member of the St. Louis Rams after he was signed by the franchise from the Chicago Bears. He also suited up for the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts in addition to both the Rams and Bears.
Proehl quickly became a key piece of one of the best wide receiver groups in NFL history around the turn of the century while suiting up alongside the likes of Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az-Zahir Hakim and others. Of course, Proehl also helped the Rams win the team's only Super Bowl title as it stands today.
Although Proehl only had one reception for 11 yards in the Super Bowl XXXIV, it was what he did for the Rams on a weekly basis. With the tandem of Bruce and Holt gaining the majority of the praise, Proehl did quite a bit of heavy lifting over the middle.
Proehl's impact made those Rams teams even more dangerous than anticipated.
Kurt Warner, QB
While every player on this list played a significant part for the Rams during their time with the franchise, the best free agent signing in team history is an absolute no-brainer. Now a Pro Football Hall of Famer, former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner was signed by the Rams as a virtual unknown in 1998 and quickly ascended to superstardom.
He became a two-time NFC Champion, Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP, two-time NFL MVP, two-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler as a member of the Rams. Warner landed in St. Louis after very brief stints with the Green Bay Packers in 1994, Iowa Barnstormers between 1995 and 1997 and Amsterdam Admirals in 1998.
Infamously undated out of Northern Iowa in 1994, Warner took over not only St. Louis, but the entire NFL for a solid stretch of time. One of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game of football, the Rams took an unthinkable chance that paid off in the end. Which may actually be an understatement considering all of the success that Warner had atop the highest level.
Although his run in St. Louis only lasted a handful of years, Warner was at the height of his game as a member of the Rams, which also solidified his place in Canton.
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