Part Two: Top 10 Quarterbacks in Rams History
#5 Kurt Warner
Years: 1998-2003
Games: 53
Record: 35-15-0
Completion %: 66.4
Passing Yards: 14447
Touchdowns: 102
As field general of the Greatest Show on Turf offense in 1999, Warner (who only had the opportunity to play because of starter Trent Green’s preseason ACL tear) threw for 4,353 yards with 41 touchdown passes to go along with a 65.1% completion percentage. This was the first of a record 3 straight 500 point seasons for the Rams.
#4 Norm Van Brocklin
Years: 1949-1957
Games: 104
Record: 42-20-3
Completion %: 53.3
Passing Yards: 16114
Touchdowns: 118
Drafted out of the University of Oregon in 1948, he began his career in a platoon situation with standout quarterback Bob Waterfield. By the 1950 season, the Rams were scoring points at a rate of 38.8 points per game, with their 2 quarterback tandem throwing long bombs to receivers such as Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch and Tom Fears. A year later they won their only NFL title while based in Los Angeles in the history of the franchise.
#3 Roman Gabriel
Years: 1962-1972
Games: 130
Record: 74-39-6
Completion %: 51.5
Passing Yards: 22223
Touchdowns: 154
The first Asian-American to start in the NFL at the quarterback position, he was chosen first overall in the AFL draft by the Raiders and second overall the NFL draft that year by the Rams. He opted for the Rams. In 1969, he led the team to an 11 game win streak and was NFL MVP. Following the 1972 season, he threatened to accept a $100,000 contract to play the next year with the Las Vegas Casinos of the Southwestern Football League. The Rams then promptly dealt him to the Eagles.
#2 Marc Bulger
Years: 2002-2009
Games: 96
Record: 41-54-0
Completion %: 62.1
Passing Yards: 22814
Touchdowns: 122
After emerging from relative obscurity to be the Rams first string QB in 2003, Bulger spearheaded the offense that in 2003 helped the Rams to a 12-4 record and bye in the first round of the playoffs. They made the playoffs again the following year when he won MVP of that year’s Pro Bowl. It was announced in January 2016 that he is serving on the “quarterback advisory team” of the new spring league, Major League Football.
#1 Jim Everett
Years: 1986-1993
Games: 107
Record: 46-59-0
Completion %: 56.4
Passing Yards: 23758
Touchdowns: 142
While attending Purdue University, he led the pass-happy Boilermakers to wins over Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan in the same season, a feat that has never been duplicated. In the NFL, his 34,837 passing yards over the course of his career rank 14th all-time. In 1989, he was slammed to the ground so many times by the 49ers defense during the NFC championship that his confidence was admittedly shaken. In 1994, while on the set of television show “Talk2”, his ensuing reputation as being shy of getting hit led to a violent confrontation with television host Jim Rome while on the air. Rome, of course, brought the ensuing ass-whooping upon himself when he repeatedly referred to the quarterback as “Chris Everett”, in reference to female tennis player Chris Evert.