LA Rams: 15 greatest linebackers of All Time

The LA Rams never drafted linebacker/placekicker Les Richter, but they certainly made it very known that they wanted him to play for the Rams. Richter was from a different era in the NFL when players were incredibly versatile out of a basic necessity. What positions did he play? He played linebacker on defense, offensive center on offense, and was the team’s placekicker too.

Richter was a veteran of eight NFL seasons, a remarkably long career in the NFL for his time. During his eight NFL seasons, he earned Pro Bowl honors in seven of those seasons. But he was indoctrinated into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011.

The career of Les Richter is one worth telling. He loved the game of football, and it clearly loved him. In fact, Les Richter also appeared at the 30th spot in our 30 greatest players in franchise history.  Originally the second overall player drafted in the 1952 NFL Draft by the New York Yanks. That franchise folded and reformed as the Dallas Texans. The Rams traded 11 players to the new Dallas Texans franchise and never looked back.

While he played for the LA Rams for nine seasons, he was primarily a center/placekicker in 1956. He resumed his linebacker role in 1957 and subsequently surrendered his placekicking duties.

One of the most provocative quotes I’d ever read appears in Les Richter’s Hall of Fame biography:

"“Sure, I play rough. But that’s what the Rams pay me for, and that’s what the fans pay to see.”- Les Richter, as quoted on his Hall of Fame page"

Richter passed away at the age of 79 on June 12, 2010.