The 10 best All-Time Rams defensive linemen, including Deacon Jones

The Rams, whether the Cleveland Rams, the Los Angeles Rams, the St. Louis Rams, or the LA Rams, are one of the most accomplished and successful franchises in the history of the NFL. This is a team that despite periods of offensive excellence from 'The Greatest Show On Turf,' was content to grind it out on the ground and smother opposing offenses with outstanding play from the defensive line.

In many ways, the Rams history is steeped in rushing offenses and stymying defenses. This is a team whose head coach, Chuck Noll, was nicknamed 'Ground Chuck,' due to his reliance on a strong running game. And this is the same team that birthed the defensive front that became renowned in NFL history as the 'Fearsome Foursome,' a group composed of DE David 'Deacon' Jones, DT Lamar Lundy, DT Merlin Olson, and DE Roger Brown.

While the team boasted multiple pioneers who raised the bar of excellence with each new generation, the Rams have cemented their place in the annals of NFL lore with incredible play from defensive linemen. So who are the best of the best?

Criteria for selection

These defensive linemen were chosen based on a combination of:

• Statistical Achievements
• Impact on Success
• Longevity
• Memorable Moments

The 10 best linemen in the history of the Los Angeles Rams

10: DE Chris Long

Defensive end Chris Long was unable to help carry the St Louis Rams back to a Super Bowl victory, but his ability to shed blockers and rush opposing quarterbacks set the stage for his successors to show up and immediately make an NFL impact. It was veteran Chris Long whose warm welcome of DE Robert Quinn and DT Aaron Donald set the stage for both players to flourish instantly.

Despite a lack of postseason play with the Rams, he did end up earning two Super Bowl Victories with the New England Patriots (2016) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2017). But his 54.5 quarterback sacks while playing for the Saint Louis Rams from the 2008-2015 seasons have anchored him in 12th place for the All-Time QB sack leader of the team. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 270 pounds, he was a physical, tough-minded defender who was always ready to make a game-changing play. He was a fan favorite of every team he played for.

9: DE Lamar Lundy

Defensive end Lamar Lundy was one of the founding fathers of the original "Fearsome Foursome," which was the Rams four-man defensive line that included Lundy, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, and Roger Brown. Lundy played 13 seasons for the Rams defense (1957-1969) at a time when their defense was feared around the league. This 6-foot-7 245-pound defensive terror loved to mix it up, chase down quarterbacks, and seal the win.

Curiously, the 6-foot-7 Lundy was drafted both by the NFL (LA Rams) and the NBA (St. Louis Hawks) but chose to play football for the Rams. So what was it about that defensive front that made it so dominant? Lundy shared the secret in a 2001 interview with Sports Illustrated:

"What made us special was how we worked together. There was always a deep understanding among the four of us, something that keeps us close"

- Lamar Lundy.

The NFL did not officially record defensive stats before 1982, so any and all numbers you see here and elsewhere are not official. But had we official numbers, you would be amazed just how effective Lundy and his teammates were in their heyday.

8:DE Robert Quinn

While the NFL careers of DE Robert Quinn DE Chris Long, and DT Aaron Donald did overlap in 2014 and 2015, the distribution of defensive snaps clearly pointed the way to the Rams pivoting away from Long and Quinn and relying more and more heavily on Donald. What makes this such an intriguing part of this transition is the fact that in the aftermath, Long readily admits to pushing for the Rams to lay the lion's share of snaps on Donald.

Based on the snap count of Quinn, he was swept up in that transition as well. But the 6-foot-4, 245 pound defensive lineman played seven seasons for the Rams, and even stuck with the team in the transition from Saint Louis, Missouri, back to Los Angeles, California. Over those seven NFL seasons (2011-2017), he managed to record 62.5 quarterback sacks and 218 tackles. He continued on to play five more season in the NFL.

7: DE Leonard Little

Defensive lineman Leonard Little is one of the most dominating defensive linemen in the NFL. The problem was that by the time he improved to an All-Pro level, he was competing on some pretty good teams that simply could not win the big game. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 267 pounds, Little was a ruthless defensive lineman who earned the right to be honored with multiple NFL accolades and honors. But he was only given the nod to All-Pro status once. in 2003.

In 2008, it was Little who welcomed rookie Chris Long, who would welcome Robert Quinn, who would welcome Aaron Donald. Little's 87.5 quarterback sacks remain entrenched as the fifth-most in the team's history. And his 390 tackles hold a spot on the team's All-Time tackler list as well.

6: DT Larry Brooks

The ranking of DT Larry Brooks and DE Leonard Little was very close and was ultimately decided by the fact that Brooks helped carry his team to postseason competition seven times, while Little was only able to compete in the postseason five times. Brooks competed for the Rams in 11 seasons, There is no way to truly compare their statistics because the NFL did not deem it necessary to record defensive stats before 1982.

Brooks stood 6-foot-3 and weighs 255 pounds. He also was a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. While we do not have a good number for tackles, Brooks is credited with 74,5 quarterback sacks, which is an outstanding number for an interior defensive lineman.

5: DE Fred Dryer

While we are talking about defensive end Fred Dreyer's NFL accomplishments, I would be remiss if I did not point out the fact that he also starred in a popular television cop show named Hunter, with co-star Stepfanie Kramer. Dryer stood 6-foot-6 and weighed 240 pounds. Originally drafted by the New York Giants with the 13th overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft,

Dryer was frustrated playing for the Giants, and wanted to return to Southern California. He refused to negotiate with the Giants for an extension, forcing the Giants to trade him to the New England Patriots in 1972. But Fred Dryer signed with the Los Angeles Rams, and proceeded to prove why he was so valuable.

He continued to play for the Rams for 10 seasons, ultimately putting up 74.0 quarterback sacks in horns. His ultimate goal of returning to Southern California was a shrewd business decision, as he would go on to become a Hollywood star as well.

4: DE Jack Youngblood

When it comes down to pure NFL grit, LA Rams defensive end Jack Youngblood is the NFL's poster child of pure ruthless competition. This YouTube video demonstrates just how intensely fierce Youngblood played, a true competitor. He competed for the LA Rams in 14 seasons, and he is a six-time All-Pro, and seven-time Pro Bowler, and helped to lead his team to NFL Playoffs ten times.

Unfortunately, he never won a Super Bowl Ring.

Youngblood was a terror for opposing quarterbacks, recording 151.5 quarterback sacks over his career. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 247 pounds, he was a powerhouse who arrived to the defensive line while the Fearsome Foursome still ruled in the NFL. But he would get starts the following year, and would become a full-time starter for the Rams in 1973.

3: DT Aaron Donald

While I believe that Aaron Donald had plenty left in the tank, he chose to retire after 10 NFL seasons. But in terms of accomplishments, he had checked virtually all of the boxes. Donald stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 280 pounds, and from the moment he arrived to the NFL, practically everyone recognized just how special he was. He is a nine-time All-Pro, and an ten-time Pro Bowler. He won a Super Bowl Ring, and helped to lead his team to the NFL playoffs five times.

While he is retired, NFL reporters and analysts, and even his teammates, continue to flirt with the idea that he may elect to come out of retirement in 2024. And as of publication of this article, there are no confirmed reports that the LA Rams have officially submitted Donald's retirement paperwork. Then, there's this:

Donald dominated the NFL with 340 tackles and 111.0 quarterback sacks. When he stepped onto the football field, he instantly become the focus of quarterbacks and every offensive lineman in his vicinity. Perhaps most importantly, Donald's success, despited standing just 6-foot-1, has forced NFL teams to redefine the standards for selecting rookie defensive linemen.

2 DT Merlin Olsen

The LA Rams have no shortage of dominating defensive linemen, as defensive tackle Merlin Olsen played 15 seasons for the Rams. Over the span of his NFL career, he earned All-Pro honors ten times, and earned Pro Bowl honors 14 times. He competed for the Rams from 1962 through 1976, a span of time when the NFL did not officially track defensive statistics.

Despite those challenges, Olsen did record 91.0 quarterback sacks, and he was also credited with a pick-six, a true anomaly for an interior defensive lineman. Much like Fred Dryer, Rosie Grier, and a host of other LA Rams players, Merlin Olsen followed up his NFL career by becoming a Hollywood star.

While never winning a Super Bowl, Olsen did help carry his team to the NFL Playoffs six times.

1: DE David 'Deacon' Jones

While David 'Deacon' Jones was one of the best to ever do it in the NFL, he acknowledged the mentorship of veteran DL Lamar Lundy that helped get his NFL career on track. It was Jones, the originator of the term 'quarterback sack,' who acknowledged the struggles of African-Americans playing in the NFL so long ago:

"I met Lamar in 1961 when I joined the Rams as a player and he had already been there a few years. When I got there, things were completely different than they are now. We were all coming out of a segregated world and we needed leadership among ourselves. I needed a mentor and Lamar was just a solid player and solid gentleman. We met during the course of training camp and became tight friends. He really helped me out during my rookie year and I do not know if I would have made it through my first season without him."

- Deacon Jones

Jones was a wrecking ball, Despite playing just 11 seasons for the Rams, he is credited with recording 159.5 quarterback sacks. He would go on to finish his career with two seasons with the San Diego Chargers and one season with the then Washington football team.

Perhaps another lesser known fact about Deacon Jones is that his patented pass rush move, the head slap, was so effective and violent that the NFL outlawed the move in 1977. That was after Deacon Jones no longer competed in the NFL. While the move was in line with preventing player injuries, the removal of the move almost guarantees that no other will top his QB sack numbers in as short of a time frame.

Thanks for reading.