Rams’ biggest what-if just ran into his harshest reality yet (and fans know why)

The Los Angeles Rams know full well just how blessed the offense was to have former running back Todd Gurley in its offense. And while we can dissect, analyze, and debate why this offense simply no longer scores as readily as those offenses did when he was on the field, the answer to why the Rams offense continues to stare at us in the face.

Gurley only played in the NFL for six seasons, and competed for the Rams for five of those six years. That is a short career in terms of longevity for an NFL star. But he was one of a kind, a player whose offensive production allowed him to run at will, pile up points on the scoreboard, and even push secondaries with his amazing route running and soft hands.

In his five NFL seasons with the Rams, Gurley carried the football 1,265 times for 5,404 yards and 58 rushing touchdowns. At the same time, he caught 218 of 310 passes (a 72.4 percent catch rate) for 2090 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. He helped the team appear and compete in Super Bowl LIII, a game lost to the New England Patriots by a score of 13-3.

But what transforms Gurley's reputable career into the Rams’ biggest what-if question happened when his name appeared in sports headlines again. If you did not know, his name appeared on the list of first-time NFL players eligible for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Todd Gurley's Hall of Fame eligibility comes at the worst time

Gurley is one of three running backs who are eligible for induction into the Hall this year. The other players who played running back are Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy. Gore is primarily known for his ten years competing for the San Francisco 49ers, but he played 16 seasons across five NFL teams. McCoy is known for his six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he played 12 seasons across four different NFL teams.

In stark contrast, Gurley played six seasons for just two teams, finishing his NFL career with one season playing for the Atlanta Falcons.

Rams fans know that Gurley was on track for a sure-fire Hall of Fame induction if he had only remained healthy. But he suffered from chronic pain in his knees, a malady that is the bane of an NFL running back. Gurley showed the symptoms as the 2018 season drew to a close. He sat out the final two games that year, making way for the heroics of free agent running back CJ Anderson.

The Rams tried to limit Gurley's work in 2019, but he was never able to get back in the groove. He failed to rush for 100+ yards in that season. At the end of 2019, the Rams decided that Gurley's expensive contract was simply no longer cost-effective, and they released him.

Since that chapter, the Rams have unsuccessfully attempted to find a player who is as versatile and productive as Gurley once was. The Rams have enjoyed solid running backs, but no single player has managed to be as dangerous as a runner and receiver. At his peak, Gurley put up over 2000 combined offensive yards and 21 touchdowns in 2018.

Gurley is a long shot to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. His career was sensational, but he burned too brightly and simply not long enough. He was not overworked; he was simply running out of time from the moment he stepped onto an NFL football field. This Rams legend did not play long, but his tremendous career landed him in sixth place on the Rams' All-Time Career Rushing Leaders.

I am not a willing participant in what-if experiments. It never ends well. But the career of running back Todd Gurley demands that level of homage to speculate what might have been had Gurley remained healthy. Had he played 11 seasons, he would still be suiting up for the Rams in 2025.

Imagine that?

As always, thanks for reading.

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