The Los Angeles Rams, an iconic NFL franchise, boast a visually striking history as reflected in their diverse uniforms. From bold color changes to subtle design tweaks, the evolution of the Rams uniform tells a story of changing times and team identity. While a recent RamsWire post offered a glimpse into this history, we aim to provide a more comprehensive and vibrant look at the Rams Old Uniforms, showcasing their journey through color and design. This detailed exploration will highlight the significant shifts in their apparel, offering a richer understanding for fans and uniform enthusiasts alike.
In their inaugural year, 1937, the Rams sported a striking red and black combination, a far cry from the blue and gold they would later become known for.
1937 Rams Red and Black Uniforms
Transitioning to 1938, a significant color shift occurred as the team adopted blue and gold for the first time. This initial iteration featured a dark navy blue paired with yellow, marking the beginning of their association with these now-classic colors.
1938 Rams Dark Blue and Yellow Uniforms
1938 Rams Blue and Gold Full Uniform
The 1939 season saw another evolution, with the Rams opting for a royal blue jersey accented with yellow numbers. This was complemented by an old gold helmet and pants, creating a richer and more vibrant gold element to their old uniforms. This style continued into 1940, solidifying this royal blue and gold combination for a brief period.
1939-40 Rams Royal Blue and Old Gold Uniforms
In 1941 and 1942, while maintaining a similar overall look to the previous years, the Rams switched to yellow helmets, departing from the old gold. The pants remained white, and a gold jersey version also existed during this period, adding variety to their vintage Rams uniforms.
1941-42 Rams Royal Blue and Yellow Helmet Uniforms
1944 Rams Blue Jersey with White Pants
A notable moment in 1945 saw the Cleveland Rams win the NFL title while wearing gold jerseys featuring contrasting blue shoulders. This unique design highlighted a specific era in their Rams uniform history, showcasing a championship-winning look.
1945 Cleveland Rams Gold Championship Uniforms
1946 marked the Rams’ first year in Los Angeles, and they celebrated this move with gold jerseys and helmets. This bold statement solidified gold as a primary color, at least initially, in their LA chapter.
1946 Rams Blue Jersey Variation
However, the same year, 1946, also saw the introduction of a blue helmet, paired with the same jerseys. This indicated an early exploration of color combinations in Los Angeles.
1947 Rams Blue Helmet Uniforms
1948 is a landmark year in rams old uniforms history, marking the debut of the iconic horn on the helmet. Fred Gehrke, the man who hand-painted these helmets, is pictured showcasing this revolutionary design element.
1948 Rams Helmet Horn Debut with Fred Gehrke
The blue jersey remained part of the uniform set in 1948, alongside the gold, providing color options for home and away games.
1948 Rams Blue Jersey Variation with Horn Helmet
In a significant departure from tradition, 1949 witnessed the Rams experimenting with red and gold uniforms. This bold color combination was a one-year experiment, and even the helmet horn design was altered for this unique season, making these vintage Rams uniforms particularly rare in their historical timeline.
1949 Rams Gold and Red Uniform Experiment
1950 marked the return to more familiar territory with the addition of Northwestern stripes to the jerseys and a switch to white pants. By 1951, the pants became a brighter, pure white, a subtle but noticeable change from the slightly greyish white used in 1950. The fabric difference caused the 1950 pants to appear darker compared to other teams’ white pants. These details are crucial for understanding the nuances of rams old uniforms.
1950-52 Rams Northwestern Stripes and White Pants
A blue jersey variant was also part of the 1950 uniform set, occasionally worn with the slightly grey white pants.
1950 Rams Blue Jersey with Greyish White Pants
In 1953, a minor but distinct detail was added: white trim to the numerals on the jerseys. This subtle change refined the look of the numbers, adding a touch of contrast.
1953-57 Rams Numerals with White Trim
The late 1950s and early 1960s saw the Rams adopt white jerseys with Northwestern stripes for their road games. This particular shot is from the early 1960s, showcasing this era’s road uniform style.
1957-61 Rams White Road Jerseys with Northwestern Stripes
Blue jerseys with the same Northwestern striping and white trim around the numerals were used for home games, completing the set of classic Rams uniforms of this period.
1957 Rams Blue Home Jerseys with Northwestern Stripes
A slight modification in 1958 involved removing the white striping from the home blue jerseys, simplifying the design.
1958-62 Rams Blue Home Jerseys without White Stripes
1962 brought another stripe alteration, as the Northwestern stripes were replaced by the distinctive UCLA loops, a design element that would become strongly associated with the Rams in the following years.
1962-63 Rams White Road Jerseys with UCLA Loops
1964 marked a pivotal point, introducing what became the iconic Rams look for many fans. Fat shoulder stripes and a blue and white color scheme defined this era, establishing a recognizable and enduring aesthetic for their home uniforms.
1964-72 Rams Blue Home Jerseys with Fat Shoulder Stripes
Their road blue uniforms during this 1964-72 period were equally striking, maintaining the sharp color contrast and bold shoulder stripes.
1964-72 Rams White Road Jerseys with Fat Shoulder Stripes
In 1973, the Rams returned to a blue and gold color palette. Initially, white trim was added to the numerals, but visibility issues from the press box during preseason games led to its removal after only two games. This quick adjustment highlights the practical considerations behind uniform design choices in NFL uniform history.
1973 Rams Preseason Jerseys with White Trim Numerals
The 1973 uniform design, once finalized, remained largely consistent until 1999. Blue shoes were worn from 1973-76, and in 1981, grey facemasks were replaced with blue ones. Socks initially featured white trim but were updated to match the jersey adjustments. These details illustrate the subtle evolutions within a seemingly long-standing uniform design.
1973-80 Rams Blue Home Jerseys with Gold Accents
The white road uniform mirrored the home design, remaining consistent from 1973-1999, with the facemask color change to blue in 1981 as the primary alteration.
1973-80 Rams White Road Jerseys with Gold Accents
From 1981 to 1999, blue jerseys were typically worn at home, featuring blue facemasks, further solidifying the blue and gold era.
1981-99 Rams Blue Home Uniforms with Blue Facemasks
White jerseys were generally reserved for road games during this same 1981-99 period, also featuring blue facemasks for consistency.
1981-99 Rams White Road Uniforms with Blue Facemasks
1986 brought a subtle stripe refinement, with thinner pants stripes and a sheen added to the fabric, demonstrating attention to detail even within established uniform sets.
1986 Rams Uniform with Thinner Pants Stripes
For the NFL’s 75th Anniversary in 1994, teams wore “Throwback uniforms,” and the Rams iteration paid homage to their 1951 design. These throwback Rams uniforms were a popular nod to their past.
1994 Rams 1951 Throwback Uniforms for NFL 75th Anniversary
The year 2000 ushered in a significant shift from royal blue and gold to navy and old gold, rebranded as “Millennium blue and New Century gold.” This change initiated a period of numerous uniform variations, including two jersey colors and three pant options. In 2002, the color names were subtly adjusted again to “Midnight blue and Championship gold,” from “Millennium blue” and “New Century gold,” for reasons that remain somewhat unclear.
2000 Rams Navy and Old Gold Uniforms with Square Numerals
2000 Rams Uniform Detail with Square Numerals
Numerals transitioned to a rounded style from 2001 to 2011, a noticeable change in font and detail.
2001-2011 Rams Uniforms with Rounded Numerals
2001-2011 Rams Uniform Variation with Rounded Numerals
A specific jersey variant was used in the 2001 preseason and then again from 2007-2016, indicating certain designs were revisited and reused across different periods.
2001 (preseason) / 2007-2016 Rams Uniform Variant
Further variations appeared in 2003, 2007, and then consistently from 2010-2016, demonstrating the increasing number of uniform combinations and styles.
2003, 2007, 2010-16 Rams Uniform Variation
Another distinct style was seen in 2005 and then again from 2007-2016, further adding to the diverse range of Rams jerseys history during this era.
2005, 2007-2016 Rams Uniform Variation
A “Throwback” uniform was also introduced from 2009-2019, showing a continued appreciation for their iconic Rams uniforms from the past.
2009-19 Rams Throwback Uniforms
The “Color Rush” uniform made its appearance in 2015 and then again from 2017-19, joining the growing list of special edition and alternative uniforms.
2015, 2017-19 Rams Color Rush Uniforms
From 2007-2016, a particular uniform style was prominent, indicating a period of relative consistency amidst the variations.
2007-2016 Rams Uniform Style
In 2017, another distinct uniform set was introduced, reflecting ongoing design changes.
2017 Rams Uniform Style
Further variations continued from 2017-19, showcasing the team’s dynamic approach to uniform design in recent years.
2017-19 Rams Uniform Style Variation
2017-19 Rams Uniform Style Another Variation
Finally, recent uniform announcements introduced “Rams Royal” and “Sol” (gold) as the primary colors, with a light grey option named “Bone.” This signifies a return to blue and gold with a modern twist, incorporating a light grey alternative.
2020 Rams Royal and Sol Uniforms
2020 Rams Bone Light Grey Uniforms
2020 Rams Royal over Royal Uniforms
This extensive overview provides a detailed and colorful journey through the rams old uniforms since 1937. From the initial red and black to the modern royal and sol, the Rams’ uniform history is a testament to the evolution of NFL style and team branding.
