The 1979 season was the Los Angeles Rams' 42nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall, and their 34th in the Greater Los Angeles Area. It was the final season for the franchise in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until 2016, as late owner Carroll Rosenbloom previously announced the Rams would move to Anaheim Stadium for the 1980 season.

The Rams won their seventh-consecutive NFC West title in 1979 and went to the Super Bowl for the first time. It was the team's only Super Bowl appearance during their first stint in Los Angeles, and their first appearance in a league championship game since 1955. It would be the Rams' last division title for six seasons and the last time they would win consecutive division titles until 2017–18. The Rams wouldn't return to the Super Bowl based in Los Angeles until 2018 (their next one as a franchise was in 1999 while based in St. Louis). Their streak of 7 straight division titles stood as an NFL record for 38 years until the New England Patriots won their 8th straight AFC East championship in 2016, a streak that eventually reached 11 straight in 2019. The Kansas City Chiefs have since moved into 2nd place for the most consecutive division titles, having won 9 straight AFC West division titles from 2016 to 2024.

The 1979 Rams were the first team in NFL history to have a less than a +50 point differential and make it to the Super Bowl.Football Outsiders: Super Bowl XLVI Preview (The Rams scored only 14 points more than their opponents in 1979.) Thirty-two years later, the 2011 New York Giants, also with a 9–7 record, became the first team to reach the Super Bowl with a negative point differential (−6); unlike the 1979 Rams, the Giants would go on to win the Super Bowl, defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. The 2008 Arizona Cardinals also reached the Super Bowl, but lost in the final moments of Super Bowl XLIII, also to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Because of this, the 1979 Rams are often cited as one of the worst Super Bowl teams of all time.

Offseason Owner Caroll Rosenbloom drowned on April 2, 1979, while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean just off of his home in Golden Beach, Florida, leaving the team to his widow, Georgia.

Draft

Undrafted free agents

+ 1979 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeKen BeckmanPunterArizona StateDan BierstedtLinebackerSouthwest Texas StateDan BurnsTight endUSCDennis ByrdWide receiverLong Beach StateRalph CarnahanRunning backTennessee StatePhil ChamblissDefensive endSan Diego StateJeff CorbittRunning backMike EvansTackleUNLVRichard ForceLinebackerCal PolyJim Freitas QuarterbackLong Beach StateArmando HerreraKickerCal PolyJames JohnsonDefensive endVirginia TechFrank JordanKickerUSCSid JustinCornerbackLong Beach StateBob KeiperTight endSt. MarysDan KendraQuarterbackWest VirginiaCraig KimballQuarterbackSan Jose StateFloyd LavenderCornerbackCal State FullertonTony MaddocksWide receiverLong Beach StateKeith MyersSafetyUtah StateJohn PaetzGuardFresno StateCurtis PhilyawSafetyWest L. A. CollegeIvory SullySafetyDelawareJimmy TuckerRunning backUNLVBurks WashingtonLinebackerNorth Texas State

Personnel Staff / Coaches

Final roster

Preseason

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.comrecap 1 Oakland Raiders W 20–17 1–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 54,575 2 August 12 at New England Patriots W 15–3 2–0 Schaefer Stadium 44,955 3 Seattle Seahawks W 21–17 3–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 46,083 4 San Diego Chargers W 23–7 4–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 50,089

Regular season

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 2 Oakland Raiders L 17–24 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 59,000 Recap 2 at Denver Broncos W 13–9 1–1 Mile High Stadium 74,884 Recap 3 September 16 San Francisco 49ers W 27–24 2–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 44,303 Recap 4 September 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 6–21 2–2 Tampa Stadium 69,497 Recap 5 September 30 St. Louis Cardinals W 21–0 3–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 48,160 Recap 6 October 7 at New Orleans Saints W 35–17 4–2 Louisiana Superdome 68,986 Recap 7 October 14 at Dallas Cowboys L 6–30 4–3 Texas Stadium 64,462 Recap 8 October 21 San Diego Chargers L 16–40 4–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 64,245 Recap 9 October 28 New York Giants L 14–20 4–5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 43,376 Recap 10 November 4 at Seattle Seahawks W 24–0 5–5 Kingdome 62,048 Recap 11 November 11 at Chicago Bears L 23–27 5–6 Soldier Field 51,483 Recap 12 Atlanta Falcons W 20–14 6–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 54,097 Recap 13 November 25 at San Francisco 49ers W 26–20 7–6 Candlestick Park 49,282 Recap 14 December 2 Minnesota Vikings W 27–21 8–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 56,700 Recap 15 December 9 at Atlanta Falcons W 34–13 9–6 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 49,236 Recap 16 December 16 New Orleans Saints L 14–29 9–7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 53,879 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Notes:

All times are PDT/PST (UTC–7 and UTC–8 starting October 28)

Season summary

Week 1

The Rams jumped out to an early 14–0 lead, but a failure to protect the punter led to two blocks and 10 Raiders points before halftime. The Raiders also intercepted three second-half passes and turned two into Ken Stabler-to-Raymond Chester touchdown passes. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 2

Rams tackle John Williams held Bronco LB Larry Evans in the end zone in the first quarter for a safety. The Rams appeared on verge of going 0–2 until, late in the fourth, safety Dave Elmendorf laid a hit on QB Craig Morton and LB Jack Reynolds picked up the fumble and reached the end zone for the winning score.

The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 3

After spotting the 49ers 10 points, the Rams scored 24 unanswered, Pat Haden passing for two touchdowns and Cullen Bryant rushing for 106 yards and another to secure the win.

Week 4

Jim Youngblood put the Rams on the board early with an interception return touchdown, but from then on it was all Buccaneers as Doug Williams tossed two touchdowns in the second quarter and the Tampa Bay defense shut down the Rams.

The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 5

The Rams bounced back with a shutout. Speedy Wendell Tyler started at running back and scored a touchdown.The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 6

Haden threw for three touchdowns in the blowout, but WR Ron Jessie was injured and lost for the remainder of the season along with fellow WR Willie Miller. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 7

In a dominating performance by the Cowboys, Roger Staubach passed for three touchdowns and Tony Dorsett ran for 103 and a touchdown.The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 8

The Chargers forced eight turnovers, including four interceptions and four fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown), with five sacks and numerous hits on Haden. Dan Fouts passed for 326 yards and two touchdowns.The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 9

Haden passed for 282 yards and two touchdowns but also threw four more interceptions and had trouble making big plays. Giants rookie QB Phil Simms found success running and passing. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 10

The Rams defense turned in a record-setting performance, holding the Seahawks to minus-7 yards of total offense and one first down. Haden threw two touchdowns on 21-of-24 passing and set a team record with 13 straight completions, but fractured his right pinky finger and would be lost for the rest of the season.

The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 11

With both Haden and backup Vince Ferragamo out, the Rams turned to quarterback Jeff Rutledge, who threw for a touchdown and helped the Rams to a 23–14 lead after three quarters, but the defense faltered.

The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 12

Ferragamo made his first start of the season in this Monday night game and showed his big-play capability, completing long touchdown passes to young speedsters Preston Dennard and Billy Waddy.

The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 13

An unexpectedly tough game against the 1–11 49ers featured many significant plays, including an 80-yard blocked field-goal return touchdown by Rams CB Sid Justin and a 71-yard touchdown pass from Ferragamo to Tyler.The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 14

After the Rams gained only 44 yards in the first half, Malavasi benched Ferragamo in favor of backup Bob Lee after halftime. In overtime, the Rams ran a fake field goal and holder Nolan Cromwell scored on a five-yard touchdown run to lift the Rams into first place in the NFC West. The Rams took sole possession of the division lead the next night when the Saints lost.The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 15

Scoring 28 points in the second quarter and forcing five Falcons turnovers, the Rams clinched their seventh straight NFC West division title, an NFL record. Tyler gained 150 yards from scrimmage in the win.

The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Week 16

Having clinched the division the previous week, the Rams played a sloppy game, committing six turnovers and allowing 422 yards to the Saints. Tyler rushed for 141 yards and a first-quarter touchdown, but New Orleans scored the next 27 points. This was the Rams' final home game at the Los Angeles Coliseum before their relocation to Anaheim Stadium.

The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-17.

Standings

Playoffs

Round Date Opponent Kickoff TV Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap Wild Card First Round Bye Divisional December 30 at Dallas Cowboys (1) 1:00 p.m. PST CBS W 21–19 1–0 Texas Stadium 64,792 Recap NFC Championship January 6 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) 2:00 p.m. PST CBS W 9–0 2–0 Tampa Stadium 72,033 Recap Super Bowl XIV January 20 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (A2) 3:00 p.m. PST CBS L 19–31 2–1 Rose Bowl 103,985 Recap

Notes:

All times are PACIFIC time.

NFC Divisional Playoffs (Sunday, December 30, 1979): at (1) Dallas Cowboys

Quarterback Vince Ferragamo led the Rams to a victory by throwing for 3 touchdown passes, the last one with 2:06 left in the game. The Cowboys scored first when defensive tackle Randy White sacked Ferragamo in the end zone for a safety. However, Ferragamo responded by throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to running back Wendell Tyler. Dallas kicker Rafael Septién kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left in the first half, but Ferragamo completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith before time expired to make it a 14–5 halftime lead. The Cowboys, led by quarterback Roger Staubach in what proved to be his last NFL game of his Hall of Fame career, then scored 2 unanswered touchdowns in the second half to take the lead, 19–14. With about 2 minutes left in the game and the Rams at midfield, Ferragamo found wide receiver Billy Waddy on a short crossing route and Waddy sprinted the rest of the way for a game winning 50-yard touchdown. Staubach was unable to engineer a late fourth quarter comeback like the ones that made him famous throughout his career. The Rams defense pressured the Dallas quarterback to throw a pass illegally to an ineligible receiver, guard Herbert Scott, on third down, the last pass of his career to be caught; on fourth down, he overthrew Drew Pearson.

Conference Championship