Los Angeles Rams: 15 greatest running backs of all-time

Believe it or not, Elroy Hirsch‘s story with the Rams is a bit of a wild one. He was originally selected by the Rams when they were in Cleveland back in 1945. However, he denied to return to the University of Wisconsin once he was discharged from the military.

To top it off, Hirsch would end up playing in the AAFC instead of the NFL from 1946 to 1948 as a member of the Chicago Rockets. And once things failed to work out with the Rockets as a result of contract issues, Hirsch would eventually try to join the Green Bay Packers in 1949. The Rams stepped in to point out they had the rights to his contract and he joined Los Angeles.

Frustrating or not at the time, this seemed to work out for the best for both Hirsch and the Rams. Hirsch would go on to have a Pro Football Hall of Fame career with the Rams, as one of the better receiving threats of his era.

Without question there were plenty of exciting seasons involving Hirsch as a member of the Rams. That being said, it’s difficult to top off what he was able to accomplish in 1951. He led the league with 66 catches for 1,495 yards with 17 touchdowns. Those are outstanding numbers for even today’s pass-heavy game.

By then, the Rams realized Hirsch was more valuable as a receiver than running back. For the sake of this list, it still seems fitting to mention him as a top player at the position for franchise’s all-time list, even though he only briefly played primarily as a running back for the Rams.