Top 10 Seasons by a Rams Player

[AvengerRam]

Here's my ranking of the top single season performances by a Rams player, counting down...

Honorable Mention: Torry Holt (2003), Matthew Stafford (2021)

10. Robert Quinn (2013)
While the Rams were stuck in Jeff Fisher's years of mediocrity, Quinn put up monster numbers: 57 tackles, 19 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and a TD.

9. Isaac Bruce (1995)
Another bright spot on an otherwise unmemorable team. Bruce put up 119 receptions, 1,781 yards and 13 TDs on a team with a revolving door at QB.

8. Dick "Night Train" Lane (1952)
14 interceptions as a rookie. Need I say more?

7. Jack Youngblood (1979)
People remember the broken leg playoff games, but Youngblood had 18 sacks to lead a strong Rams defense.

6. Aaron Donald (2018)
Factoring in the playoffs, you could make a case for Donald's 2021 campaign, but from a pure dominance standpoint, 59 tackles, 20.5 sacks and 25 TFL is tough to beat.

5. Eric Dickerson (1984)
2,105 yards still stands as a record. Fumbles and lack of playoff success are the only things keeping this feat from being higher on the list.

4. Marshall Faulk (1999)
Faulk had 1,300+ yards rushing and 1,000+ yards receiving (2,494 total) to power the GSOT.

3. Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (1951)
Hirsch had 1,495 receiving yards and 17 TDs in a 12 game season to lead the Rams to an NFL Championship.

2. Cooper Kupp (2021)
Receiving Triple Crown, second most yards in a playoff run, Super Bowl MVP. The embodiment of the word "clutch."

1. Kurt Warner (1999)
The underdog story is unreal. The stats were outstanding. The ending was perfect. It doesn't get better than that.

 

[Turducken]

Great list and probably hard to make. Faulk had three seasons that could have made this list (99, 00, 01). Warner had two. ED'S rookie year is overshadowed by 2,105, but it was outstanding.

Hard to compare great offensive seasons to defensive ones. Easier to give each a separate top 10 list.

 

[Kupped]

Team accomplishments and playoff performances factor in for me.. and I can't separate some of them.. I'll just have to say that Warner, Stafford, Kupp and Faulk are all tied, in my eyes.
Let's call them tier 1.
Tier 2
Dickerson 84.. Bruce 95... Donald 18
Tier 3
Quinn 13 Dickerson 83 Faulk 2000

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

That 1979 D (#7) held Seattle to minus 7 total yards on Nov. 4th that year.

It’s also a fun watch. The Rams played 5 RBs: Windell Tyler, Lawrence McCutcheon, Eddie Hill, Elvis Peacock, and Cullen Bryant.
View: https://youtu.be/aYqja7Ol1Zc

 

[Loyal]

Great list and probably hard to make. Faulk had three seasons that could have made this list (99, 00, 01). Warner had two. ED'S rookie year is overshadowed by 2,105, but it was outstanding.

Hard to compare great offensive seasons to defensive ones. Easier to give each a separate top 10 list.

I agree. There are different measurables between offensive and defensive performances. I do know that Warren Sapp in an interview listed AD as one of the top 5 or 6 DT's in NFL history, and possibly moving up with every season he played from then on (two years ago).

This list seems to be going off single great seasons and that's legit. But career wise, what we are seeing Aaron Donald do in his career in unprecedented. He has to be considered in the top 2-3 players ever to wear horns.

 

[RamBall]

That 1979 D (#7) held Seattle to minus 7 total yards on Nov. 4th that year.

It’s also a fun watch. The Rams played 5 RBs: Windell Tyler, Lawrence McCutcheon, Eddie Hill, Elvis Peacock, and Cullen Bryant.
View: https://youtu.be/aYqja7Ol1Zc

I dont think I saw that game live, but I do remember a lot of the players from then. It was fun to watch even with the horrible picture, lol. Thanks for posting.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Seems to me Norm Van Brocklin should be in there somewhere. I Know, none of us were alive yet, but the guy holds the single game yards passing record with 554 on sept 28 1951 and took the Rams to a championship. He had a pretty good year in 1951.

 

[AvengerRam]

Seems to me Norm Van Brocklin should be in there somewhere. I Know, none of us were alive yet, but the guy holds the single game yards passing record with 554 on sept 28 1951 and took the Rams to a championship. He had a pretty good year in 1951.

He was actually part of a QB platoon that year with Bob Waterfield. NVB had 1,725 passing yards, while Waterfield had 1,566.

 

[Loyal]

He was actually part of a QB platoon that year with Bob Waterfield. NVB had 1,725 passing yards, while Waterfield had 1,566.

Old NFL hater!

 

[Riverumbbq]

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WFd1sEJUEcU

 

[tempests]

Deacon Jones 1967 or 1968. Most sacks by a Rams player in a single season, and for the no 1 defense in the league.

Bob Waterfield's 1945 season as a rookie was really something. Led the league in passing TDs and yards per attempt as a QB. Was also the team's place kicker and led the league in extra points. Was also the team's punter and finished fourth in the NFL in punting average. Was also a defensive back and finished second in the league in interceptions with six. Then he capped it all off with being named league MVP, winning the NFL title and the Rams making him the highest paid player in the game.

 

[PARAM]

Interesting thread!! It got me looking back at certain players. One of my favorites was Henry Ellard. Though his league leading 1414 yards in 88 isn't worthy of this list, neither is his 3 year run as a PR prior to emerging as a WR threat. 83 punt returns for 1121 yards (13.5 avg) with 4 TDs. I also remember Leroy Irvin excelling as a PR. IIRC, he actually led the league a time or two in that catagory.

On point, it's hard to argue against Warner's 99 being #1 but I'd put Kupp's 2021 against any of them. Warner had Ike, Torry, Az, Proehl and Faulk while Kupp had Stafford with Woods, OBJ and VJ all limited for half a year as well as no RB threat to speak of.

 

[Merlin]

For myself 2021 Kupp was probably the single greatest player season in Rams history. It edges out Dickerson's '84 season due to the fact that while it came up short for purposes of record he was also Super Bowl MVP and carried a title caliber offense through a grueling playoff schedule with clutch moments.

Warner's '99 season was incredible and shocking in how unexpected it was. But look at the talent around him that year. Not taking anything away from him either but what Kupp did was more impressive.

 

[Londoner]

The lack of offensive linemen in this list disturbs me.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Steven Jackson in 2006 was pretty impressive for me. Literally the only reason to watch the Rams that entire season.

 

[nighttrain]

The lack of offensive linemen in this list disturbs me.

one of my fav's from long ago, Fainin Frank Varrichione, played for the
l A Rams from 1961 thru 1965
train
ps got the nickname cus he pulled fallen down faints late in games when team needed a time out
train

 

[Allen2McVay]

The lack of offensive linemen in this list disturbs me.

Yeah but it's tough to attach an offensive lineman to a single season.

If the thread was Top 10 Careers by a Rams Player ... Minimum 10 Years, more than half the list would be OL.

 

[Loyal]

one of my fav's from long ago, Fainin Frank Varrichione, played for the
l A Rams from 1961 thru 1965
train
ps got the nickname cus he pulled fallen down faints late in games when team needed a time out
train

"Fainin Frank was my boy!" ~ @Allen2McVay

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

That 1979 D (#7) held Seattle to minus 7 total yards on Nov. 4th that year.

It’s also a fun watch. The Rams played 5 RBs: Windell Tyler, Lawrence McCutcheon, Eddie Hill, Elvis Peacock, and Cullen Bryant.
View: https://youtu.be/aYqja7Ol1Zc

I watch that game a couple times a year. The defense of course, but we ran the ball great in that game. I miss that type of offensive football.

 

[Loyal]

I watch that game a couple times a year. The defense of course, but we ran the ball great in that game. I miss that type of offensive football.

You know I LOVE this type of football. Screw that sissy passing stuff! Give me a great defense too! ~ @Merlin

"I saw my favorite in 1979...Ole #11." ~ @den-the-coach