Despite moving all over the country throughout the team's history while most recently making the trek from St. Louis, Missouri to Los Angeles, California, the Rams remain one of the league's most historic and successful franchises. Coming over to the modern day version of the NFL in 1970, the Rams notably played in both the AFL and initial form of the NFL with the team's origin dating all the way back to 1936.
A staple of the NFC ever since while currently serving as a cornerstone of the NFC West division, the Rams have captured four NFC Championships and one Super Bowl title, which infamously came during the organization's stint in St. Louis. It is also worth noting, though, that the Rams won a pair of pre-NFL championships as well, which came in 1945 and 1951, respectively.
Even outside of those four NFC Championship teams, the Rams have had some pretty successful seasons over the years with the heralded NFC West franchise now only a few seasons away from its latest appearance in a Super Bowl.
1979-80
As a result of the 1979-80 regular season, the Los Angeles Rams managed to win the NFC West division despite producing a nearly even 9-7 record. However, Los Angeles would then turn it on come playoff time en route to initially defeating the heralded Dallas Cowboys, who beat the Rams by the score of 28-0 in the postseason the year before.
Next up was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that the Rams shutout by the score of 9-0, which catapulted Los Angeles to the franchise's first ever Super Bowl appearance. Unfortunately, the surging Pittsburgh Steelers were just too much for the Rams to handle as the AFC Champion went on to win Super Bowl XIV, 31-19.
1999-00
Launching an unforgettable era in franchise history right before the turn of the 21st century, the St. Louis Rams captured the team's first ever Super Bowl title by defeating a dangerous Tennessee Titans team by quite literally one yard in Super Bowl XXXIV. The Rams infamously stopped the Titans, who were driving down the field to potentially tie the game, right before Tennessee wide receiver Kevin Dyson reached the goal as time expired.
Prior to beating the Titans, the 13-3 Rams, who were notably led by future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk, defeated both the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs. Warner was both the league MVP and Super Bowl MVP this year as Faulk was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Even though this was relatively early on in what would become some seriously memorable years for this franchise and many were unaware of what success lied ahead, this is obviously the best single-season effort in Rams history on a variety of different levels due to the play of Warner, Faulk and other key cogs. It is hard to argue against the coveted Lombardi Trophy.
2001-02
Although this dynasty wasn't truly fulfilled due to the fact that the St. Louis Rams only won a single Super Bowl in the late 1990s and early 2000s, this franchise still managed to produce some of the most memorable teams ever assembled during this span. In 2001-02, the Rams once again became NFC Champions. However, this time, St. Louis was met with what would become quite the juggernaut in quarterback Tom Brady, head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
After beating the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams lost to the Patriots, 20-17, on a last second field goal that unfortunately for St. Louis went straight through the uprights. It is also worth noting that quarterback Kurt Warner won his second league MVP award this season with running back Marshall Faulk yet again being named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
2003-04
After a forgettable season in 2002-03, the St. Louis Rams appeared to be back once again as the NFC West strung together a stellar 12-4 regular season effort in 2003-04 following a down 7-9 year prior. However, this time around, the Rams once again came up short as St. Louis lost in the divisional round of the postseason to the eventual NFC Champion Carolina Panthers.
Because of the team's regular season success and what could have been in the postseason, this is still definitely one of the best Rams teams ever — especially considering St. Louis lost to this year's runner up in overtime, no less. After splitting two playoff games in 2004-05, the Rams would not see such success again until more than 10 years later as this memorable run really came to an end in overtime against the Panthers at it initially appeared as though St. Louis and the eventual Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots were on yet another crash course in the title game.
2018-19
After years of middling level football, which immediately followed the most successful run in team history, the Los Angeles Rams were back on the West Coast. Not only that, but head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff — alongside an immensely talented defense led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald — wasted absolutely no time in reintroducing the world to this once feared NFC West franchise.
Seemingly coming out of nowhere, the Rams road the mind of McVay and the talent of Donald all the way to an appearance in the Super Bowl, though Los Angeles was once again met head on by quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Prior to coming up way short in Super Bowl LIII as the Rams only managed to score three points against the Patriots, Los Angeles defeated the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints to open up the postseason.
It is also worth noting that Los Angeles defeated New Orleans in overtime of a now infamous NFC Championship Game that was marred by a no-call by the officials. Nonetheless, it goes down as yet another — the team's fourth — NFC Championship for the Rams franchise as this appearance in a Super Bowl appeared to be a flash in the pan as Los Angeles has struggled ever since.
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