1981 Los Angeles Rams season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Los Angeles Rams 1981 6–10 3rd NFC West Ray Malavasi Don Klosterman Georgia Frontiere Anaheim Stadium Did not qualify Rams seasons thumb|Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams uniforms from 1973 to 1999 The 1981 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 44th year with the National Football League (NFL) and the 36th season in Los Angeles. The Rams looked to improve on their 11–5 record from 1980. The team failed to improve, finishing with a mediocre 6–10 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1972. This year's Rams squad also suffered the humiliation of being the first to be swept by NFC West rival New Orleans. For the season, the Rams converted from gray facemasks to blue facemasks. Offseason NFL draft 1981 NFL draft 1981 Los Angeles Rams 1 9 Mel Owens Linebacker Michigan yes 2 43 Jim Collins Linebacker Syracuse yes no https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1981_draft.htm 1981 Los Angeles Rams draftees Pro-Football-Reference.com October 4, 2014 Undrafted free agents + 1981 undrafted free agents of note Player Position CollegeJeff KempQuarterbackDartmouth The Rams were touted as a possible Super Bowl contender prior to this season. However, Vince Ferragamo, who had previously led the Rams to Super Bowl XIV and set a Rams record the previous season with 30 touchdown passes, decided to bolt for the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes. Pat Haden was named the starter, but with most of the offensive weapons that Ferragamo had, notably WR's Preston Dennard and Billy Waddy. Also, the Rams would benefit from the return of running back Wendell Tyler, who had missed most of the previous season with a hip injury from an automobile accident. Personnel Staff / Coaches 1981 Los Angeles Rams Owner/President – Georgia Frontiere Executive Vice President/General Manager – Don Klosterman Assistant General Manager – Jack Faulkner Director of Player Personnel – John Math Head Coach – Ray Malavasi Offensive Coordinator – Lionel Taylor Quarterbacks – Paul Lanham Running Backs – Hewritt Dixon Offensive Line – Dan Radakovich Defensive Coordinator – Bud Carson Defensive Line – Frank Lauterbur Linebackers – Herb Paterra Special Teams – Jim Vechiarella Conditioning – Clyde Evans Roster 1981 Los Angeles Rams 11 Pat Haden  9 Jeff Kemp y 10 Dan Pastorini 32 Cullen Bryant 44 Mike Guman 22 Jairo Penaranda y 33 Jewerl Thomas 26 Wendell Tyler 88 Preston Dennard 85 Drew Hill 82 Willie Miller American football 86 Jeff Moore wide receiver 80 Billy Waddy 84 Walt Arnold 83 Lewis Gilbert American football 62 Bill Bain American football G 60 Dennis Harrah G 72 Kent Hill G 73 Phil McKinnely T 75 Irv Pankey T 61 Rich Saul C 78 Jackie Slater T 56 Doug Smith offensive lineman T/G 97 Robert Cobb American football y DE 71 Reggie Doss DT 79 Mike Fanning American football DT 76 Cody Jones DT 69 Greg Meisner DE 95 Phil Murphy American football DT 85 Jack Youngblood DE 52 George Andrews American football OLB 57 Mario Celotto OLB 55 Carl Ekern MLB 51 Joe Harris American football OLB 58 Mel Owens y OLB 53 Jim Youngblood OLB 42 Kirk Collins FS 21 Nolan Cromwell FS 47 LeRoy Irvin CB 20 Johnnie Johnson American football SS 49 Rod Perry American football CB 23 Lucious Smith CB 37 Ivory Sully SS 27 Pat Thomas defensive back CB  3 Frank Corral K/P 35 Robert Alexander American football y RB IR 81 Ron Battle y TE IR 90 Larry Brooks American football DT IR 54 Howard Carson American football LB IR 83 Henry Childs TE IR 50 Jim Collins linebacker y LB IR 31 George Farmer wide receiver, born 1958 WR IR 77 Doug France T IR 59 George Lilja y G IR  8 Jeff Rutledge QB IR Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 6 Houston Oilers L 20–27 0–1 Anaheim Stadium 63,198 2 September 13 at New Orleans Saints L 17–23 0–2 Louisiana Superdome 62,063 3 September 20 Green Bay Packers W 35–23 1–2 Anaheim Stadium 61,286 4 September 28, 1981 at Chicago Bears W 24–7 2–2 Soldier Field 62,461 5 October 4 Cleveland Browns W 27–16 3–2 Anaheim Stadium 63,924 6 October 11 at Atlanta Falcons W 37–35 4–2 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 57,841 7 October 18 at Dallas Cowboys L 17–29 4–3 Texas Stadium 64,649 8 October 25 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–20 4–4 Candlestick Park 59,190 9 November 1 Detroit Lions W 20–13 5–4 Anaheim Stadium 61,814 10 November 8 New Orleans Saints L 13–21 5–5 Anaheim Stadium 61,068 11 November 15 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–24 5–6 Riverfront Stadium 56,836 12 November 22 San Francisco 49ers L 31–33 5–7 Anaheim Stadium 63,456 13 November 29 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 0–24 5–8 Three Rivers Stadium 51,854 14 December 6 at New York Giants L 7–10 5–9 Giants Stadium 59,659 15 December 14, 1981 Atlanta Falcons W 21–16 6–9 Anaheim Stadium 57,054 16 December 20 Washington Redskins L 7–30 6–10 Anaheim Stadium 52,224 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings See also Other Anaheim–based teams in 1981 1981 California Angels season References 30em External links 1981 Los Angeles Rams at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1981 Los Angeles Rams at jt-sw.com Los Angeles Rams Category:Los Angeles Rams seasons Los Ang