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]
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
Undrafted free agents
1994 undrafted free agents of note
| Player
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Position
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College
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| D'Marco Farr
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Defensive tackle
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Washington
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| Kevin McDougal
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Quarterback
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Notre Dame
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Personnel
Team roster
1994 Los Angeles Rams roster
| Quarterbacks (QB)
Running backs (RB)
Wide receivers (WR)
- 81 Todd Kinchen
- 82 Jermaine Ross
- 83 Flipper Anderson
- 86 Jessie Hester
- 88 Chris Brantley KR
Tight ends (TE)
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Offensive linemen (OL)
- 51 Blair Bush
- 61 Bern Brostek C
- 66 Tom Newberry C/G
- 70 Wayne Gandy T
- 71 Chuck Belin G
- 72 Clarence Jones T
- 77 Darryl Ashmore G/T
- 78 Jackie Slater T
- 79 Leo Goeas G
Defensive linemen (DL)
- 60 Fred Stokes DE
- 76 Robert Young DE
- 90 Sean Gilbert DT
- 92 David Rocker DT
- 95 Brad Ottis DE/DT
- 96 Jay Williams DE
- 97 Gerald Robinson DE
- 98 Jimmie Jones DT
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Linebackers (LB)
- 52 Joe Kelly OLB
- 53 Chris Martin OLB
- 54 Brett Collins OLB
- 56 Shane Conlan MLB
- 57 Thomas Homco
- 58 Roman Phifer OLB
- 59 Henry Rolling OLB
Defensive backs (DB)
- 20 Darryl Henley CB
- 22 Marquez Pope SS
- 24 Wymon Henderson CB/S
- 26 Anthony Newman FS
- 28 Robert Bailey CB
- 29 Dexter Davis CB
- 31 Steve Israel CB
- 32 Toby Wright FS
- 35 Keith Lyle SS
- 41 Todd Lyght CB
Special teams (ST)
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Practice squad
- 68 Brad Fichtel C
- 55 Paul Liggett MLB
- —- Tony Harrison WR
- -- Roosevelt Patterson G
53 active, 6 inactive, 3 practice squad
Reserve
- 33 James Bostic RB
 (IR)
- 80 Isaac Bruce WR (IR)
- 89 Richard Buchanan WR (IR)
- 75 D'Marco Farr DT (IR)
- 50 Ernest Jones DE (IR)
- 64 Keith Loneker G (IR)
Rookies in italics
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[4]
Staff
1994 Los Angeles Rams staff
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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.
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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
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Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1
| Game information
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First quarter
- LA – Todd Lyght 74 yard fumble return (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 7–0
Second quarter
- ARI – Greg Davis 37 yard field goal – Rams 7–3
- ARI – Greg Davis 34 yard field goal – Rams 7–6
Third quarter
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Cardinals
- Steve Beuerlein—18/40, 158 Yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
- Ronald Moore—13 Rush, 65 Yds
- Gary Clark—4 Rec, 55 Yds
Rams
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Week 2
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- LA – Isaac Bruce 34 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Falcons 14–7
- ATL – Norm Johnson 48 yard field goal – Falcons 17–7
Third quarter
- ATL – Darnell Walker 44 yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick) – Falcons 24–7
Fourth quarter
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Rams
Falcons
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Week 3
| Game information
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First quarter
- SF – John Taylor 3 yard pass from Steve Young (Doug Brien kick) – 49ers 7–0
- LA – Troy Drayton 4 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Tied 7–7
- SF – Doug Brien 33 yard field goal – 49ers 10–7
Second quarter
- LA – Tony Zendejas 25 yard field goal – Tied 10–10
- SF – Steve Young 1 yard rush (Doug Brien kick) – 49ers 17–10
Third quarter
- SF – Doug Brien 47 yard field goal – 49ers 20–10
Fourth quarter
- SF – Jerry Rice 1 yard pass from Steve Young (Doug Brien kick) – 49ers 27–10
- LA – Tony Zendejas 35 yard field goal – 49ers 27–13
- SF – Steve Young 1 yard rush (Doug Brien kick) – 49ers 34–13
- LA – Jerome Bettis 2 yard rush (pass failed) – 49ers 34–19
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49ers
Rams
- Chris Chandler—9/15, 87 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
- Jerome Bettis—21 Rush, 104 Yds
- Jessie Hester—4 Rec, 58 Yds
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Week 4
| Game information
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First quarter
- LA – Tony Zendejas 29 yard field goal – Rams 3–0
- LA – Flipper Anderson 72 yard pass from Chris Chandler (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 10–0
- LA – Tony Zendejas 23 yard field goal – Rams 13–0
Third quarter
- LA – Tony Zendejas 28 yard field goal – Rams 16–0
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Rams
Chiefs
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Week 5
| Game information
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Second quarter
Third quarter
- LA – Tony Zendejas 28 yard field goal – Rams 5–0
Fourth quarter
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Falcons
- Jeff George—16/25, 190 Yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
- Erric Pegram—13 Rush, 45 Yds
- Bert Emanuel—6 Rec, 86 Yds
Rams
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Week 6
| Game information
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First quarter
- LA – Troy Drayton 2 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 7–0
- GB – Chris Jacke 25 yard field goal – Rams 7–3
Second quarter
- LA – Troy Drayton 4 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 14–3
- LA – Tony Zendejas 37 yard field goal – Rams 17–3
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Rams
Packers
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Week 7
| Game information
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First quarter
- LA – Isaac Bruce 19 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 7–0
- NYG – Rodney Hampton 27 yard rush (David Treadwell kick) – Tied 7–7
- LA – Troy Drayton 12 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 14–7
Second quarter
- NYG – David Treadwell 24 yard field goal – Rams 14–10
- LA – Tony Zendejas 22 yard field goal – Rams 17–10
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Giants
Rams
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Week 8
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- LA – Isaac Bruce 19 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Saints 14–7
- NO – Morten Andersen 21 yard field goal – Saints 17–7
- LA – Toby Wright 98 yard fumble return (Tony Zendejas kick) – Saints 17–14
- NO – Tyrone Hughes 92 yard kickoff return (Morten Andersen kick) – Saints 24–14
- LA – Tony Zendejas 47 yard field goal – Saints 24–17
- NO – Morten Andersen 40 yard field goal – Saints 27–17
Third quarter
- NO – Morten Andersen 37 yard field goal – Saints 30–17
- LA – Tony Zendejas 32 yard field goal – Saints 30–20
- NO – Tyrone Hughes 98 yard kickoff return (Morten Andersen kick) – Saints 37–20
Fourth quarter
- LA – Johnny Bailey 7 yard rush (Tony Zendejas kick) – Saints 37–27
- LA – Robert Bailey 103 yard punt return (Tony Zendejas kick)– Saints 37–34
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Rams
Saints
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This game was notable for Robert Bailey's record-setting punt return touchdown, wherein the Rams failed to down the ball in the end zone for a touchback; while most players assumed that the ball bounced out of bounds and stepped off the field, Bailey recognized the live ball, retrieved it, and ran it for 103 yards, all the way back to the Saints' end zone, untouched. Due to later rule changes that declare a punted ball dead when it hits the ground in the end zone, this play is currently unable to be replicated in the NFL.
Week 10
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- LA – Howard Griffith 3 yard pass from Chris Chandler (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 14–0
- DEN – Jason Elam 42 yard field goal – Rams 14–3
- LA – Tony Zendejas 35 yard field goal – Rams 17–3
Third quarter
- LA – Flipper Anderson 30 yard pass from Chris Chandler (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 24–3
- DEN – Jason Elam 29 yard field goal – Rams 24–6
Fourth quarter
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Broncos
Rams
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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.
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Fourth quarter
- RAI – Jeff Jaeger 44 yard field goal – Raiders 17–7
- LA – Tony Zendejas 22 yard field goal – Raiders 17–10
- RAI – Jeff Jaeger 47 yard field goal – Raiders 20–10
- LA – Todd Kinchen 4 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Raiders 20–17
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Raiders
Rams
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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.
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- LA – Tony Zendejas 27 yard field goal – 49ers 14–6
- SF – Jerry Rice 5 yard pass from Steve Young (Doug Brien kick) – 49ers 21–6
Third quarter
- LA – Todd Kinchen 44 yard rush (pass failed) – 49ers 21–12
- SF – Doug Brien 28 yard field goal – 49ers 24–12
- LA – Flipper Anderson 50 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – 49ers 24–19
Fourth quarter
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Rams
- Chris Miller—16/33, 228 Yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
- Todd Kinchen—1 Rush, 44 Yds
- Flipper Anderson—5 Rec, 99 Yds
49ers
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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.
| Game information
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Second quarter
- LA – Jessie Hester 40 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 7–0
- SD – John Carney 31 yard field goal – Rams 7–3
- LA – Troy Drayton 12 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 14–3
- SD – John Carney 49 yard field goal – Rams 14–6
Third quarter
- SD – Darrien Gordon 75 yard punt return (Ronnie Harmon run) – Tied 14–14
- SD – Ronnie Harmon 11 yd pass from Stan Humphries (John Carney kick) – Chargers 21–14
Fourth quarter
- SD – John Carney 37 yard field goal – Chargers 24–14
- LA – Tony Zendejas 33 yard field goal – Chargers 24–17
- SD – Sean Vanhorse 50 yard interception return (John Carney kick) – Chargers 31–17
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Rams
- Chris Miller—26/47, 298 Yds, 2 TD, 4 INT
- Jerome Bettis—10 Rush, 38 Yds
- Jessie Hester—4 Rec, 85 Yds
Chargers
- Stan Humphries—17/33, 147 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Natrone Means—23 Rush, 95 Yds
- Mark Seay—4 Rec, 42 Yds
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Week 14
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- NO – Mario Bates 11 yard rush (Morten Andersen kick) – Saints 14–0
- LA – Todd Kinchen 24 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Saints 14–7
- NO – Mario Bates 1 yard rush (Morten Andersen kick) – Saints 21–7
- NO – Michael Haynes 30 yard pass from Jim Everett (Morten Andersen kick) – Saints 28–7
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Saints
- Jim Everett—13/22, 161 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Mario Bates—25 Rush, 96 Yds
- Michael Haynes—5 Rec, 80 Yds
Rams
- Chris Miller—17/24, 198 Yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
- Jerome Bettis—15 Rush, 53 Yds
- Johnny Bailey—11 Rec, 116 Yds
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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.
| Game information
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Second quarter
- TB – Michael Husted 20 yard field goal – Buccaneers 3–0
- TB – Charles Wilson 71 yd pass from Craig Erickson (M. Husted kick) – Buccaneers 10–0
- LA – Troy Drayton 22 yd pass from Chris Chandler (Tony Zendejas kick) – Buccaneers 10–7
- TB – Errict Rhett 8 yard rush (Michael Husted kick) – Buccaneers 17–7
Fourth quarter
- LA – Jessie Hester 12 yd pass from Chris Chandler (T. Zendejas kick) – Buccaneers 17–14
- TB – Charles Wilson 44 yd pass from Craig Erickson (M. Husted kick) – Buccaneers 24–14
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Rams
- Chris Chandler—18/34, 199 Yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
- Jerome Bettis—13 Rush, 23 Yds
- Jessie Hester—6 Rec, 82 Yds
Buccaneers
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Week 16
| Game information
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First quarter
- LA – Chris Chandler 1 yard rush (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 7–0
- CHI – Kevin Butler 41 yard field goal – Rams 7–3
Second quarter
- LA – Tony Zendejas 18 yard field goal – Rams 10–3
- CHI – Keith Jennings 3 yard pass from Steve Walsh (Kevin Butler kick) – Tied 10–10
- CHI – Raymont Harris 2 yard rush (Kevin Butler kick) – Bears 17–10
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- LA – Tony Zendejas 21 yard field goal – Bears 20–13
- CHI – Lewis Tillman 1 yard rush (Kevin Butler kick) – Bears 27–13
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Rams
- Chris Chandler— 8/13, 145 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
- Johnny Bailey— 3 Rush, 9 Yds
- Flipper Anderson— 2 Rec, 69 Yds
Bears
- Steve Walsh— 12/25, 135 Yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
- Raymont Harris— 23 Rush, 92 Yds
- Jeff Graham— 4 Rec, 66 Yds
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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]
| Game information
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First quarter
- LA – Anthony Newman 22 yard interception return (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 7–0
Second quarter
- WAS – Reggie Brooks 2 yard rush (Chip Lohmiller kick) – Tied 7–7
- LA – Todd Kinchen 34 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 14–7
- WAS – Brian Mitchell 78 yard punt return (Chip Lohmiller kick) – Tied 14–14
- WAS – Chip Lohmiller 37 yard field goal – Redskins 17–14
- LA – Jermaine Ross 36 yard pass from Chris Miller (Tony Zendejas kick) – Rams 21–17
Third quarter
- WAS – James Jenkins 1 yd pass from Heath Shuler (Chip Lohmiller kick) – Redskins 24–21
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Redskins
Rams
- Chris Miller— 27/40, 304 Yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
- Jerome Bettis— 15 Rush, 48 Yds
- Jessie Hester— 5 Rec, 66 Yds
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Standings
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 to 1987), 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]
The Rams would not return to the Los Angeles area until 2016.
See also
References
- ^ Simers, T.J. (January 15, 1995). "Despite Regrets, Owner Says Rams Leaving". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Rams moving closer to St. Louis". Baltimore Sun.
- ^ Friend, Tom (December 22, 1994). "PRO FOOTBALL; A Farewell to Tinsel Town". The New York Times.
- ^ "1994 Los Angeles Rams starters, roster, and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
- ^ Digiovanna, Mike (December 25, 1994). "It Was Sad Day at the Big A for Rams Fans". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ George, Thomas (March 16, 1993). "PRO FOOTBALL; N.F.L. Owners Reject Rams' Bid to Move To St. Louis". The New York Times.
- ^ Simers, T.J.; Plaschke, Bill (March 16, 1994). "League Owners Reject Rams' Move to St. Louis". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Simers, T.J. (April 13, 1994). "NFL Owners OK Rams' Move to St. Louis". Los Angeles Times.
External links
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| Wild card berths (10) | |
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