The Los Angeles Rams, formerly of St. Louis, are one of the most prestigious franchises in NFL history having been to the Super Bowl five times and winning two. Here, we are breaking down the top 5 Rams offensive linemen ever.
Some of the greatest players in NFL history have worn a Rams uniform as they have the sixth-most Hall of Famers of all 32 organizations.
Included in that list are a number of offensive linemen. Although they don’t always get the recognition, the offensive line is one of the most important units on a football field.
The Rams have had so many great players up front over the years that this list is challenging, but here are the top five offensive linemen in franchise history:
1. Jackie Slater
The Rams selected Slater in the third round in 1976 out of Jackson State University. In something that is almost unheard of, Slater played 20 NFL seasons all with the Rams, starting at right tackle and playing a total of 259 games.
Slater was named to seven Pro Bowls, four All-Pro teams and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. As far as longevity goes, he has an argument for being one of the best offensive linemen in NFL history.
2. Orlando Pace
Pace was one of the pillars of the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams era that won Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. The Rams traded their No. 6 overall pick as well as their third, fourth and seventh-round selections to the New York Jets in order to select Pace with the first overall pick in 1997 out of Ohio State.
Pace only missed nine games in his first nine seasons with the Rams and played in 169 total in his NFL career. He made seven consecutive Pro Bowls from 1999-2005 as well as three All-Pro teams and was selected to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. He eventually was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
3. Tom Mack
Mack was drafted second overall by the Rams in 1966 out of Michigan. The guard was known for being an iron man, ranking third all-time in the Rams organization with 176 starts across 13 seasons.
Playing his whole career in L.A., Mack was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. He was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
4. Dennis Harrah
The Rams drafted Harrah 11th overall in 1975 out of Miami. He took over as the team’s starting right guard in his second season and remained there for the next 12 years, playing his whole career in L.A.
Harrah made six Pro Bowls and was selected to the All-Pro First Team in 1986. The Rams recently honored him as a “Legend of the Game” in Sept. 2022.
5. Andrew Whitworth
Whitworth didn’t spend most of his career with the Rams, being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round in 2006 out of LSU and spending his first 11 years there.
The left tackle signed with the Rams in 2017 and spent his final five seasons with the organization, reaching two Super Bowls and winning one in his final year.
Overall in his 16-year career, Whitworth was named to four Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. His impact off the field was just as great as his impact on it though and that was recognized when he was named the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2021.
