In his third season, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is leading his team into Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots with more experience than the other signal callers in his team’s history, who helped the team win National Football League titles.
Goff is in his second year as a starter, but when the Rams won championships in 1945 and 1999 they were under the leadership of a rookie and a second-year player with one NFL game under his belt.
Rookie Bob Waterfield quarterbacked the Cleveland Rams to the 15-14 win over the Washington Redskins, while Kurt Warner went from the Arena League to Super Bowl champion and Most Valuable Player after the St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans 23-16 in 1999.
The Rams only title in Los Angeles came in 1951. Waterfield was the starting quarterback, but it was a backup Norm Van Brocklin who tossed in the winning score in the fourth period. Van Brocklin had played in 32 regular season games at the time, while Goff has been in 38.
The Goalpost
Just as this year’s version of the Rams may have been aided by an official’s non-call, the 1945 squad was helped by the goalpost twice.
Back then the goalposts were actually in the end zone instead of where they are now, which was changed before the 1974 season.
The first points of the game came when Washington quarterback Sammy Baugh hit the goalpost attempting to pass. At the time, that meant safety and two points for the Rams. That rule would be changed the following season.
In the second period after the Redskins took a 7-2 lead, Waterfield connected with Jim Benton on a 37-yard pass for a score. Waterfield, who was also the team’s kicker, booted an extra point that hit the crossbar and bounced over for 9-7 advantage.
Waterfield threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jim Gillette in the third quarter, but he then missed the extra point.
The Redskins added a final score in the third, but neither team could find the end zone in the final quarter.
1951 Championship
After winning the title in 1945, the Rams became the only team in NFL history to move to another city as they headed to Los Angeles in 1946.
Losing in the 1949 and 1950 title affairs, the Los Angeles Rams finally won the NFL championship a year later with a 24-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Waterfield started the contest for the Rams, but he was replaced by Van Brocklin.
With the score tied at 17-17 in the fourth quarter, Van Brocklin hit Tom Fears for a 73-yard game-winning touchdown.
Waterfield was 9-of-24 for 125 yards, while Van Brocklin completed 4-of-6 passes for 128 yards and the winning score.
The Greatest Show on Turf
Nicknamed the “The Greatest Show on Turf” the Rams under head coach Dick Vermeil finished an improbable run to the Super Bowl XXXIV championship in Atlanta, which is the site of this year’s contest.
Taking over for starter Trent Green after a pre-season injury, Warner led the Rams to a 13-3 regular season record.
Ironically just like in 1951, the winning score came on a play with the same yardage as Warner threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Issac Bruce.
The Rams had to survive the game’s final play to claim the title as linebacker Mike Jones stopped Titans receiver Kevin Dyson just before the goal line.
Hall of Fame
If the Rams win Super Bowl LIII, what are Goff’s chances at an induction in Canton when his career is over?
Obviously, there is the long way to go for that to happen for Goff, but on his side is the fact that Waterfield (1965), Van Brocklin (1971) and Warner (2017) all have a bust in the shrine.