1959 Los Angeles Rams

The 1959 Los Angeles Rams had another tough season, continuing their struggles to return to form. While there were some individual bright spots, the team could not overcome its deficiencies and finished with a losing record once again.

Team Overview (1959 Los Angeles Rams):

• Record: 2-10
• Finish: 5th in the Western Division
• Head Coach: Joe Stydahar (10th season as head coach)

The 1959 season was yet another disappointing year for the Rams. With a 2-10 record, they finished in 5th place in the tough Western Division. The team had multiple issues on both sides of the ball, leading to another year of subpar performance.

Key Players:

1. Norm Van Brocklin (Quarterback):

   • Van Brocklin was still the starting quarterback, but by this time, his career was winding down. His performance was inconsistent, and although he had flashes of his old ability, he struggled with turnovers and failed to lead the team to success. The Rams were in desperate need of a change at quarterback to revitalize their offense.

2. Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch (Wide Receiver):

   • Hirsch continued to be a key player for the Rams, despite the team’s offensive struggles. He was still one of the top receivers in the league, but his impact was often limited due to the poor performance of the passing game and the team’s overall inability to sustain drives. Hirsch’s skill and leadership were among the few bright spots in a disappointing season.

3. Tom Fears (Wide Receiver):

   • Fears remained an important part of the offense, but like Hirsch, he was unable to make a significant impact due to the offensive struggles. He was a reliable receiver, but the Rams’ passing attack was inconsistent at best, and their lack of a strong offensive line contributed to this.

4. Les Richter (Linebacker/Fullback):

   • Richter was one of the Rams’ most dependable players, contributing on both offense and defense. He was a versatile player, but his all-around talent was not enough to make up for the team’s weaknesses. Richter’s leadership and playmaking ability remained key, but the Rams were unable to put together a winning team around him.

5. Dick “Night Train” Lane (Cornerback):

   • Lane continued to be one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, and his aggressive play style made him one of the league’s best defensive players. Despite Lane’s efforts and leadership on the defensive side of the ball, the Rams’ defense was inconsistent and was often on the field for extended periods due to the offense’s inability to sustain drives.

Season Summary:

• Offensive Struggles: The Rams’ offense in 1959 was once again plagued by inconsistency. Van Brocklin struggled with turnovers and was unable to establish a reliable passing attack. Despite the talent of Hirsch and Fears, the Rams could not get enough sustained production from their offense, leading to a lack of scoring and an inability to compete in most games.

• Defensive Performance: The Rams’ defense, anchored by players like Lane and Richter, was solid but not dominant. They had moments of brilliance but couldn’t consistently stop opponents, especially when the offense was unable to control the ball and create scoring opportunities. The defense often had to shoulder the burden of keeping the team in games, which they weren’t able to do consistently.

• Key Games: The Rams struggled in almost every game of the season, and their record reflected their difficulties. They were unable to beat many of the top teams in their division, including the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers. Their inability to win divisional games again kept them out of playoff contention.

Missed Playoffs:

• The Rams finished last in the Western Division with a 2-10 record, well behind the division-leading Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. As in previous years, the Rams were not competitive enough to make a playoff push, and their struggles in both offense and defense kept them at the bottom of the division.

Aftermath:

• By the end of the 1959 season, it was clear that Joe Stydahar’s time as head coach was coming to an end. Despite the presence of several future Hall of Fame players, the Rams were unable to get back to their winning ways, and management began looking for a new direction for the franchise.

• The 1959 season was part of a prolonged period of decline for the Rams. After the team’s success in the early 1950s, they had failed to keep pace with the top teams in the league. The 1959 season marked one of their lowest points during this stretch.

Legacy:

• The 1959 season was another chapter in the Rams’ period of struggle. Despite having Van Brocklin, Hirsch, Lane, and Richter—all of whom are considered some of the best players in the history of the franchise—the Rams could not overcome their offensive inefficiencies and overall lack of team cohesion.

• For many fans, the 1959 season served as a reminder of how quickly a team can go from being competitive to struggling. The Rams needed a major rebuild to return to contention, and the offseason would see significant changes as the team looked for a new head coach and potential new leadership.

• The 1959 Rams are often remembered for their individual talents, but the team’s inability to translate that talent into victories led to their continued failure to make the playoffs. It would take a few more years of rebuilding before the Rams would regain competitiveness in the NFL.

In conclusion, the 1959 Rams were mired in another poor season of underperformance. Despite having some outstanding players, they could not put it all together and ended the season with a 2-10 record. Significant changes were needed, and the franchise was set to undergo a period of reorganization in the coming years.

Head Coach: *Sid Gillman

• To be listed, a player must have played at least one game for the team during this season.
• * Hall of Fame
• + Primary starter

Pos	#		Player	GP	GS	Start Pos	Exp	DOB	Ht	Wt	College
HB/E			Jon Arnett	12			3	04/20/1934	‘ “		Southern California
DE/DT/T			John Baker	12			2	06/10/1935	‘ “		North Carolina Central
T			Charlie Bradshaw	12			2	03/13/1936	‘ “		Baylor
DE/E			Gene Brito	2			8	10/23/1925	‘ “		Loyola Marymount
DB			Don Burroughs	10			5	08/19/1931	‘ “		Colorado State
E/WR			Leon Clarke	11			4	01/10/1933	‘ “		Southern California
DT/T			Paul Dickson	10			R	02/26/1937	‘ “		Baylor
DB			Tom Franckhauser	12			R	05/26/1937	‘ “		Purdue
T/G			Bob Fry	12			5	11/11/1930	‘ “		Kentucky
LB			John Guzik	12			1	07/12/1936	‘ “		Pittsburgh
G/C			John Houser	12			3	06/21/1935	‘ “		Redlands
QB			Buddy Humphrey	2			R	09/29/1935	‘ “		Baylor
LB			Bill Jobko	12			2	10/07/1935	‘ “		Ohio State
DB			Carl Karilivacz	6			7	11/20/1930	‘ “		Syracuse
G/T			Buck Lansford	4			5	11/04/1933	‘ “		Texas
DT			John LoVetere	12			1	05/31/1936	‘ “		Compton CC (CA)
DE/E			Lamar Lundy	12			3	04/17/1935	‘ “		Purdue
FB/RB			Joe Marconi	12			4	02/06/1934	‘ “		West Virginia
RB/WR/DB		*	Ollie Matson	12			7	05/01/1930	‘ “		San Francisco
DB			Ed Meador	12			R	08/10/1937	‘ “		Arkansas Tech
DE/K			Lou Michaels	12			2	09/28/1935	‘ “		Kentucky
DB			Jack Morris	12			2	11/01/1931	‘ “		Oregon
C/G/DE			John Morrow	11			3	04/27/1933	‘ “		Michigan
LB			Jack Pardee	12			3	04/19/1936	‘ “		Texas A&M
E/WR			Jim Phillips	9			2	02/05/1936	‘ “		Auburn
G/LB			Duane Putman	10			8	09/05/1928	‘ “		University of Pacific
LB		*	Les Richter	12			6	10/06/1930	‘ “		California
QB			Frank Ryan	10			2	07/12/1936	‘ “		Rice
T/G			Gene Selawski	12			1	11/28/1935	‘ “		Purdue
DB/RB			Will Sherman	10			7	10/20/1927	‘ “		Southern California
TE/DB			Del Shofner	12			3	12/11/1934	‘ “		Baylor
DT			George Strugar	11			3	04/02/1934	‘ “		Washington
DB/E/WR/HB			Clendon Thomas	10			2	12/28/1935	‘ “		Oklahoma
QB			Billy Wade	12			6	10/04/1930	‘ “		Vanderbilt
LB/DE			Roy Wilkins	12			2	12/26/1933	‘ “		Georgia
DE/E/LB			Sam Williams	12			1	03/09/1931	‘ “		Michigan State
HB/FB			Tommy Wilson	12			4	09/01/1932	‘ “		none