How many players still remain on LA Rams roster from SB LVI?

It never ceases to amaze me when pondering the fleeting nature of the NFL. Whether intentional or not, the ability to reform a Super Bowl contender is no easy matter, even when the entire team commits to 'run it back,' after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Sadly, the LA Rams were not up to the task.

The team tried. Well, in some ways the team tried. The Rams made a significant offer to veteran outside linebacker Von Miller to re-sign him. But, he opted for an initial offer of more guaranteed money to sign with the Buffalo Bills. That led to the Rams pivoting on a dime to add ILB Bobby Wagner and WR Allen Robinson with the money set aside for Miller.

That didn't work out for Miller. After a season-ending injury, he was forced to renegotiate his contract and take a significant pay cut. It didn't work out for the Rams either, who released Wagner and traded Robinson just one year after adding both.

The latest trade of WR Ben Skowronek continues the pattern of the Rams roster depleting the veterans from that Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

That opened up the topic that I am finally able to put down on paper. Exactly how many players still remain on LA Rams roster from SB LVI? And on that topic, who are they?

Keep in mind that Super Bowl LVI was played in SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022. Now, just over two years later, we are comparing the two rosters to see how many players remain. The answer may surprise you:

Special Teams (0)

The team currently has no players who are special team specialists from Super Bowl LVI. Even the Special Teams Coordinator, Chase Blackburn, is new to the team and was not a member of the coaching staff in 2021-22.

Offense (7)

There are just seven players on the Rams roster who were with the team for Super Bowl LVI. The two heroes of the game, QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp are both still here. But many of the rank and file from that game are no longer with the team:

• QB Matthew Stafford *
• WR Cooper Kupp *
• WR Tutu Atwell
• TE Tyler Higbee *
• OT Joe Noteboom
• RT Rob Havenstein *
• OT Alaric Jackson *

* denotes currently starting for the Rams

The curious part of this transformation is the fact that the Rams offense was quite potent throughout the 2021 NFL season. From quick strike capability to gearing down and grinding it out on the ground, the offense seemed to have a unique versatility to morph into whatever style ensured victory.

Defense (6)

Perhaps even more striking is the change that has taken place on the defensive side of the football. With the retirement of Aaron Donald, the Rams defense will be led by inside linebacker Ernest Jones. Jones is arguably the most productive defensive player on the team right now, and certainly has a multi-faceted ability to counter whatever the offense plans to thrown at him.

• DT Bobby Brown III *
• DE Michael Hoecht *
• ILB Ernest Jones *
• ILB Troy Reeder (left and back again)
• ILB Christian Rozeboom
• DB Darious Williams (left and back again) *

* denotes currently starting for the Rams

The team is transitioning on defense after the retirement of DT Aaron Donald, led by new DC Chris Shula. With the new direction for this unit, the team certainly has its work cut out for themselves. But the 2023 NFL Draft created a huge beachhead of optimism for future success. That optimism will take another huge step forward if the team has added multiple starters from the 2024 NFL Draft class as well.

One of the casual nicknames for the NFL is Not For Long. In the case of the LA Rams roster, that is certainly proving to be the case. Change is neither good nor bad. It just is. For the Rams, change has been both. Right now, the winds of change are blowing the Rams in a positive direction. Perhaps on course to appear in Super Bowl LIX.