Tracing the LA Rams Uniform History: Colors, Horns, and Legacy

Good Saturday Morning, Uni Watchers. As the Super Bowl approaches, let’s delve into the captivating uniform history of one of its contenders, the Los Angeles Rams. With the invaluable assistance of Timmy Brulia, co-founder of the Gridiron Uniform Database, we embark on a journey through eighty-five years of Rams gridiron fashion. From their humble beginnings as the Cleveland Rams in 1937 to their current Los Angeles iteration, the Rams’ uniform evolution is a tale of color shifts, iconic horn designs, and enduring legacy. Prepare for a detailed exploration of a team whose visual identity is as rich as their history.

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Rams Uniform History

by Timmy Brulia

In The Beginning: Cleveland

1937 Cleveland Rams Uniform

1937: Joining the NFL as its 10th team after a season in the American Football League, the Cleveland Rams debuted in striking red leather helmets, black jerseys accented with red numbers and sleeve panels, paired with red pants and black socks. This bold color scheme marked the beginning of the Rams’ visual identity in professional football. (See detailed notes on the 1937 Cleveland Rams uniform here).

1938: A significant color scheme change occurred in just their second year. Dark blue helmets replaced the red, and the jerseys also transitioned to dark blue, now featuring yellow numerals. The pants became a generic khaki with distinctive black rear stripes, while the socks remained dark blue. This shift towards blue and yellow hinted at the colors that would become more associated with the Rams in later years.

1939: Continuing their early visual evolution, the Rams introduced more changes. Helmets now sported a gold sheen, jerseys shifted to a royal blue with yellow shoulders and yellow numbers, and yellow pants with a thin blue side stripe were introduced. Solid royal blue socks completed this updated look, further solidifying the blue and yellow palette in the Rams’ early uniform history.

1941: Another helmet color adjustment saw the helmets change from gold to yellow, aiming to better match the yellow trim on the rest of the uniform. This subtle change emphasized color coordination and a more unified visual presentation.

1943: World War II’s impact led to the Rams taking a temporary hiatus, as the conflict significantly depleted their roster.

1944: Upon their return, the Rams unveiled further uniform modifications. The yellow helmet remained, while the blue jersey lost its yellow shoulders. Notably, a yellow jersey was introduced, featuring blue shoulders and blue numbers. Pants transitioned from yellow to white with a thin yellow/blue/yellow side stripe. Socks featured three thin yellow stripes on the blue pair, and three blue stripes on the yellow pair. In a unique instance, the Rams added white tape to the shoulders of their blue jerseys for a game against the Detroit Lions, enhancing contrast against the Lions’ Honolulu blue.

1945: Reflecting the patriotic spirit of the era, the Rams added a patriotic patch to the left sleeve of their jerseys, a common practice across the league during World War II.

The Move To Los Angeles

1946: After clinching the NFL Championship, the Rams relocated to Los Angeles, marking a new chapter and bringing subtle uniform adjustments. The yellow jersey lost its blue shoulder inserts, and both sets of socks became stripeless. These changes streamlined the look as the team transitioned to a new city and fanbase.

1947: A significant helmet color change saw blue lids replacing the yellow helmets. This shift towards blue helmets marked a step closer to the Rams’ classic color scheme.

Image alt text: A historical image of Fred Gehrke meticulously hand-painting the iconic yellow ram horns onto a blue Los Angeles Rams helmet in 1948.

1948: This year marked a monumental moment in NFL uniform history: the introduction of the iconic Rams horns on the helmet. Player Fred Gehrke received approval to paint yellow ram horns onto the blue helmets, a groundbreaking design starting at the forehead, curling around the sides and below the earhole, culminating above it. Pants were changed to a pale yellow with a blue/yellow/blue stripe pattern. The yellow socks, previously worn with the yellow jersey, were discontinued. The helmet horns instantly became synonymous with the Rams brand.

1949: In a surprising move, the Rams temporarily replaced blue with red. Switching from leather to plastic helmets, the yellow horns became ribbed and curled upwards above the earhole. The plain blue jersey was replaced with a plain red jersey for one game against Detroit. Pant stripes simplified to a single red stripe, and socks became solid red. This red experiment marked a deviation from their developing blue and yellow identity.

1950: The Rams reverted to blue. Helmets returned to blue, and the yellow horns became smooth again, curling under and around the earhole once more. The yellow (primary) jerseys once again featured blue numbers and gained blue northwestern stripes on the sleeves. Red jerseys were replaced by blue jerseys. The pant stripe pattern returned to the blue/yellow/blue combination, and socks went back to blue. This year signified a return to the core colors and a refinement of the classic Rams look.

1951: Rams pants became entirely white, while retaining the blue/yellow/blue stripes. Yellow jerseys were worn exclusively this season, establishing it as their primary home jersey.

1953: White outlines were added to the jersey numbers, enhancing visibility and adding a distinct visual element to the numerals.

1956: Following a league-wide trend, the Rams added blue sleeve numbers (or “TV numbers”) to the sleeves, positioned above the stripes. Notably, the Rams TV numbers were quite tall compared to other teams, making them a unique uniform detail.

Magazine Cover Featuring LA Rams Players in Uniform

1957: Responding to the NFL mandate for two jersey sets for each team, driven by television’s growing influence, the Rams reintroduced their blue jerseys. These mirrored the yellow jersey style in reverse, featuring yellow front and back numbers outlined in white, and tall yellow TV numbers above yellow northwestern sleeve stripes. Interestingly, the Rams also debuted white jerseys for three road games, designed identically to the yellow jerseys but without any yellow trim.

1958: The white outlines on the numbers of the blue jerseys were removed, simplifying the design and giving the blue jerseys a cleaner look.

1962: The white jerseys underwent a slight modification as the northwestern stripes were replaced with shoulder stripes featuring a blue/yellow/blue pattern, mirroring the design of the pant stripes for a more cohesive uniform.

Ditching the Yellow

1964: In a significant uniform overhaul, yellow was largely removed as a trim color, except for the socks which remained solid royal blue. The helmet horns transitioned to white and became fully separated at the front, unlike their previously conjoined state. The white jersey became the home jersey, and the shoulder stripes transformed into a very thick blue shoulder loop. Blue jerseys also dropped yellow trim, adopting white accents, including white front and back numbers, tall white sleeve numbers, and two white sleeve stripes. Pants remained white with a blue side stripe. This drastic change marked a move towards a blue and white color scheme, a departure from the yellow that had been a part of the Rams’ uniforms for decades.

1968: The white jersey was worn for every regular season game this year, solidifying its status as the primary home uniform.

1969: Continuing the trend, the white jersey was again worn for all games, including their playoff game at Minnesota. The NFL’s 50th-anniversary patch was added to the left shoulder, above the blue shoulder stripe, commemorating the league’s milestone.

1970: For the third consecutive season, the Rams wore white jerseys throughout the entire season. With the AFL-NFL merger, blue player names were added to the jersey backs in a very large font size. A blue v-neck collar replaced the white crew neck, updating the jersey’s neckline.

1971: Blue jerseys returned for two away games (against New Orleans and Dallas), featuring white names on the back (NOB). This marked a partial return of the blue jerseys after several seasons of white dominance.

1972: While no major changes occurred, around mid-season, the Rams made a notable switch to wearing the blue jerseys for home games, a departure from their recent white-at-home practice.

The Return of the Yellow

Los Angeles Rams Uniforms 1973-1999

1973: Major uniform changes marked this year, most notably, the return of yellow! Yellow helmet horns reappeared for the first time since 1963. Blue jerseys became a slightly lighter hue and featured a yellow v-neck and numbers. The sleeves now showcased a yellow ram horn design that started at the armpit, encircled the shoulder, and pointed down the sleeve. Yellow TV numbers fit neatly within the horn design. The only white element on the blue jersey was the nameplate. White jerseys featured blue numbers, a blue v-neck, and blue ram horns on yellow sleeves. Pants were yellow with a blue/white/blue stripe pattern. Blue socks were adorned with two yellow stripes, the first sock stripes in 28 years. The Rams even coordinated cleats, with blue cleats worn with the blue uniform set and white shoes with the white set. This comprehensive redesign brought back yellow as a prominent color and introduced the distinctive ram horn sleeve design that would become a hallmark of the Rams’ uniforms for decades.

1976: The Rams standardized their footwear, exclusively adopting white cleats for both uniform sets, simplifying their on-field appearance.

1981: A minor helmet detail changed as the Rams switched from gray facemasks to blue ones, further emphasizing their primary team color on the helmet.

1982: In the strike-shortened season, the Rams wore white jerseys exclusively for all games.

1985: Celebrating their 40th season in Los Angeles, the Rams commemorated the milestone with a special patch worn on the left collarbone.

1988: From October 23rd through the season’s end, a “Drug Use Is Life Abuse” patch was worn as part of a league-wide initiative to raise awareness.

1993: White jerseys were worn for all 16 regular season games, continuing the trend of prioritizing the white uniform set.

1994: Like all NFL teams, the Rams wore the NFL’s 75th-anniversary patch on the left collarbone. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the Rams donned throwback uniforms for Weeks 3 and 4, recreating the 1950-52 style yellow jersey with blue front and back numbers, blue northwestern sleeve stripes, and a blue NOB. These throwbacks were paired with white pants featuring blue/yellow/blue stripes and solid blue socks, offering a glimpse into the Rams’ mid-century uniform aesthetics.

The Move To St. Louis

1995: After nearly five decades in Los Angeles, the Rams relocated to St. Louis. The only initial uniform change was the removal of stripes from the blue socks. However, starting with the October 15th game, the Rams added a patch commemorating their inaugural season in St. Louis on the left collarbone.

1999: In their Super Bowl XXXIV appearance against the Tennessee Titans, the Rams proudly displayed the Super Bowl XXXIV logo patch on the collarbone of their white jerseys, marking their entry into the championship game.

Yellow Becomes Champagne Gold

London Fletcher in St. Louis Rams Uniform

2000: A significant uniform overhaul accompanied the “Greatest Show on Turf” era. Yellow was replaced by a champagne gold, and blue deepened to a darker shade. The blue jersey now featured a gold neckline, gold front, back, and shoulder numbers with a white outline, a white NOB, gold and white shoulder stripes transitioning into gold side panels, a new Rams logo on the sleeves, and a small Rams wordmark below the neckline. The white jersey retained the blue neckline, blue front, back, and shoulder numbers with a gold outline, blue NOB, gold shoulder stripes that became side panels, blue sleeves with the Ram logo, and a small Rams wordmark under the neckline. Pants became gold without striping, and socks remained solid dark blue. This redesign modernized the Rams’ look with the introduction of champagne gold and bolder design elements.

2001: For Super Bowl XXXVI against the New England Patriots, the Rams wore the Super Bowl XXXVI patch on the left collarbone.

2002: The side panels were removed from both the blue and white jersey sets, creating a cleaner, more streamlined jersey design.

2003: For two early-season games (Weeks 1 and 3), dark blue pants were paired with the white jerseys. These pants featured thin white/thin gold/thick dark blue/thin gold/thin white stripes, offering a different pant option for the white jersey.

2004: While the dark blue pants were not used again this season, a 10th-anniversary patch commemorating a decade in St. Louis was worn on the upper chest area of both jersey sets.

2005: In Weeks 11 and 17, the Rams revived the 2003 dark blue pants, pairing them with the dark blue jerseys to create a monochromatic blue uniform.

2006: White pants reappeared, featuring side stripes of thin dark blue/thick gold/thin dark blue, and were worn with the white jersey for Week 11.

2007: The Rams showcased uniform versatility, wearing six different combinations: white jersey with white pants, white/gold, white/blue, blue/white, blue/gold, and blue/blue.

2008: A memorial patch for late owner Georgia Frontiere was worn on the left collarbone of both jerseys. For Week 1, a league-wide Gene Upshaw memorial patch was added to the right collarbone of the dark blue jersey. Four uniform combinations were used: white/gold, white/blue, blue/white, and blue/blue.

2009: In addition to the existing combinations, the Rams brought back the blue 1973-1999 era uniforms with solid blue socks for Weeks 5 and 15 as throwback games.

2010: All six possible uniform combinations were worn, including the 1973-99 throwbacks.

2011: Similar to 2010 in terms of combinations, a 9/11 patch was worn on the left collarbone of the blue jersey for Week 1, as part of a league-wide tribute.

2012: Gold pants were discontinued, reducing the combinations to four, plus the throwback option. With Nike becoming the NFL’s uniform supplier, the Rams adopted the “flywire” collar on all three jerseys. The dark blue jersey featured commemorative patches twice: an “International Series” patch for the Week 8 game in London, and a league-wide Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary patch in Weeks 14 and 15.

2013, 2014: The five remaining combinations (without gold pants) were consistently worn across these seasons.

2015: Alongside the usual five combinations, the Rams participated in the NFL’s Color Rush campaign for Thursday Night Football in Week 15, debuting an all-yellow uniform. This monochromatic look featured a jersey based on the blue throwback, throwback yellow pants, and full yellow socks and cleats.

Back To Los Angeles

2016: Returning to Los Angeles, the Rams maintained the same five uniform outfits, plus the season’s Color Rush uniform (Week 15), which was a white/white combination, but with white helmet horns and all-white socks.

2017: A transitional year saw a mix of old and new. While seemingly aiming to phase out gold and fully embrace dark blue and white, the Rams switched helmet horns to white and introduced blue pants with a single white stripe. However, the jerseys remained unchanged, still featuring gold trim! The standard four combinations were worn, along with the yellow color rush uniform and throwbacks.

2018: With restrictions seemingly preventing a complete blue and white jersey redesign, the NFL allowed the Rams to utilize the throwback uniform set as their de facto home uniform. The dark blue jersey with gold trim was thus retired. The yellow color rush uniform was worn for two games, and white jerseys were paired with both white pants and dark blue pants. For Super Bowl LIII, as the designated home team, the Rams chose to wear their throwbacks, a decision favored by uniform enthusiasts.

2019: For their final game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rams wore a commemorative patch on the left breast. Also, aligning with a growing NFL trend, the Rams adopted all-white socks without stripes with the white uniform set for several games.

Modern Uniforms

Los Angeles Rams Modern Uniforms 2020-Present

2020: Marking perhaps the most significant uniform overhaul in team history, the Rams unveiled a completely modernized look. Helmets: Now in a shade named Rams royal blue, with redesigned bright yellow (or “sol”) horns, resembling ocean waves rather than traditional horns. Jerseys: The royal blue jersey features rounded numbers that transition in color from yellow at the top to white at the bottom. Sleeves have a single sol yellow shoulder loop. A tiny blue patch with “RAMS” is on the left chest. NOBs are white, and TV numbers are absent. The “bone” jerseys (an off-white, not pure white) feature shiny rounded blue numbers with a slightly darker blue outline and small TV numbers on the sleeves. A semi-loop of sol yellow and white surrounds the TV numbers on the shoulders. The NOB is blue. A small white rectangular patch with “Los Angeles Rams” is on the left chest. Pants: Three versions exist: Blue with a side stripe transitioning from white to yellow, Yellow with white/blue stripes, and Bone with yellow stripes. Jerseys and pants are interchangeable. Socks: Solid blue or bone, no white socks. This radical redesign aimed for a contemporary aesthetic, introducing new colors, number styles, and design elements.

2021: The Rams added an alternate white jersey featuring rounded blue numbers with a slightly darker blue outline and blue NOBs. Sleeves include a blue shoulder loop with sol yellow extending to the sleeve edge. Like the blue jerseys, TV numbers are absent. A micro small white patch on the left chest has “RAMS” inset. For Super Bowl LVI, the SB logo patch is on the right chest, and this jersey will be worn with sol yellow pants and blue socks.