What Is 1946 Los Angeles Rams football

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1946 Los Angeles Rams were the first NFL team to relocate to Los Angeles, finishing the season with a 6-4-1 record and integrating the league by signing Kenny Washington and Woody Strode, the first Black players in the NFL in over a decade.

Key Facts

Relocated from Cleveland to Los Angeles in 1946 after 7 seasons in Cleveland
Signed Kenny Washington on March 21, 1946, ending the NFL's 13-year color barrier
Finished regular season 6-4-1, placing 2nd in the NFL Western Division
Became first NFL team to play home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Led by head coach Adam Walsh and quarterback Bob Waterfield, a rookie sensation

Overview

The 1946 Los Angeles Rams marked a pivotal moment in NFL history, becoming the first professional football team to represent Los Angeles. After relocating from Cleveland, where they played from 1937 to 1945, the Rams brought professional football to the West Coast, setting the stage for the league’s national expansion.

This season was historically significant not only for its geographic shift but also for breaking the NFL’s racial barrier. The team signed two Black players—Kenny Washington and Woody Strode—ending over a decade of racial exclusion in the league and aligning with broader civil rights progress in postwar America.

Relocated from Cleveland to Los Angeles in 1946, becoming the first NFL franchise on the West Coast and transforming the league’s geographic footprint.
Played home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a 90,000-seat stadium that set new standards for attendance and visibility in professional football.
Finished with a 6-4-1 regular season record, placing second in the NFL Western Division behind the Chicago Bears, who went 8-2-1.
Head coach Adam Walsh led the team in his first season, implementing an innovative passing attack that capitalized on quarterback Bob Waterfield’s arm strength.
Rookie quarterback Bob Waterfield was named NFL Co-MVP in 1946, throwing for 1,295 yards and 14 touchdowns, a standout performance for the era.

Historical Significance and Integration

The 1946 Rams were instrumental in reshaping the NFL’s social and competitive landscape. Their decision to sign African American players challenged the league’s unwritten segregation policy and reflected Los Angeles’ progressive urban culture.

Kenny Washington signed on March 21, 1946, becoming the first Black player in the NFL since 1933, breaking the color barrier after a 12-year absence of Black athletes.
Woody Strode joined shortly after Washington, making the Rams the first team with two Black players in the modern era and symbolizing a shift toward inclusivity.
Washington played fullback and linebacker, appearing in 10 games and rushing for 314 yards, proving Black athletes could compete at the highest level.
Strode played end and special teams, contributing to the Rams’ defensive depth and paving the way for future generations of diverse players.
Owner Dan Reeves supported integration, defying league resistance and leveraging the move for publicity and moral leadership in a segregated era.
The Rams’ integration preceded Jackie Robinson’s MLB debut by one year, making their actions even more groundbreaking in American sports history.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1946 Rams to other NFL teams of the era highlights their unique blend of innovation, integration, and cultural impact.

Team	Record (1946)	Key Player	Integration Status	Home Stadium
Los Angeles Rams	6-4-1	Bob Waterfield	Integrated (2 Black players)	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Chicago Bears	8-2-1	Sid Luckman	Segregated	Wrigley Field
New York Giants	7-3-1	Frank Filchock	Segregated	Polo Grounds
Cleveland Browns (AAFC)	12-2	Otto Graham	Integrated (Bill Willis, Marion Motley)	Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Green Bay Packers	6-5-0	Don Hutson	Segregated	City Stadium

The table illustrates how the Rams stood out not only for their West Coast location but also for their progressive stance on race. While the AAFC’s Cleveland Browns also integrated in 1946, the Rams’ move carried greater symbolic weight due to the NFL’s higher national profile. Their Coliseum home games drew over 40,000 fans per game, doubling typical attendance elsewhere and proving the viability of professional football in Los Angeles.

Why It Matters

The 1946 Los Angeles Rams season was a turning point in sports, race relations, and American culture. Their actions reverberated beyond football, influencing civil rights and media representation in the postwar era.

Set precedent for NFL integration, encouraging other teams to sign Black players and leading to a more diverse and competitive league by the 1950s.
Proved football could thrive in Los Angeles, paving the way for future franchises like the Raiders and Chargers to relocate west.
Boosted television coverage of sports, as local broadcasts from the Coliseum introduced football to a broader, multi-ethnic audience.
Highlighted the role of team owners in social change, with Dan Reeves using business acumen and moral courage to challenge racial norms.
Inspired future generations of athletes, including stars like O.J. Simpson and Eric Dickerson, who followed in the Rams’ footsteps at USC and in the NFL.
Symbolized postwar American transformation, reflecting shifts in migration, urbanization, and civil rights that defined mid-20th century U.S. history.

The legacy of the 1946 Rams endures not only in statistics but in the values they championed—innovation, inclusion, and the power of sports to drive social progress.