What Is 1965 Los Angeles Rams football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1965 Los Angeles Rams finished the season with a 4–10 record, placing 7th in the NFL Western Conference under head coach Harland Svare. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and scored 237 points, averaging 16.9 per game.

Key Facts

Finished the 1965 season with a 4–10 win-loss record
Played home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Scored 237 total points (16.9 per game) — 13th out of 14 teams
Head coach Harland Svare was in his second season
Missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year

Overview

The 1965 Los Angeles Rams were a professional football team competing in the National Football League (NFL) during a transitional era for the franchise. Coming off a 5–9 record in 1964, expectations were modest as the team entered its 28th season in Los Angeles under head coach Harland Svare.

Despite flashes of offensive potential, the Rams struggled with consistency and defense, ultimately finishing with a 4–10 record. They placed seventh in the 10-team Western Conference and failed to qualify for the postseason for the fourth straight year.

Record: The team finished the regular season with a 4–10 win-loss record, their worst since 1962, highlighting a decline in performance under second-year head coach Harland Svare.
Home Stadium: All home games were played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a venue the Rams had used since 1946, with a seating capacity exceeding 90,000.
Offensive Output: The Rams scored 237 total points over 14 games, averaging 16.9 points per game, ranking 13th out of 14 NFL teams in scoring.
Defensive Struggles: They allowed 354 points (25.3 per game), the third-worst defensive performance in the league, contributing heavily to their losing record.
Season Start: The Rams opened the 1965 season with a 21–17 win over the New Orleans Saints on September 19, offering brief hope for improvement.

Season Performance and Key Games

The 1965 campaign was marked by a strong start that quickly unraveled, with the Rams losing nine of their final 13 games. Injuries, inconsistent quarterback play, and a porous defense undermined any momentum.

Quarterback Rotation: The Rams used three starting quarterbacks—Roman Gabriel, Tom Owen, and Frank Ryan—reflecting instability at a critical position throughout the season.
Best Win: A 34–13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on October 31 was the Rams’ most dominant performance, showcasing rare offensive efficiency.
Rivalry Game: In their matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on December 5, the Rams lost 27–21 in a tightly contested NFC West division game.
Road Struggles: Los Angeles went 1–6 on the road, including a 48–14 blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns on December 12, their worst defeat of the season.
Final Game: The season concluded with a 28–10 loss to the Green Bay Packers on December 19, sealing their 4–10 record and seventh-place finish.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1965 Rams compared to other NFL teams in key statistical categories:

Team	Record (W-L)	Points For	Points Against	Coach
Los Angeles Rams	4–10	237	354	Harland Svare
Green Bay Packers	10–3	326	250	Vince Lombardi
Baltimore Colts	10–3	309	255	Don Shula
Chicago Bears	9–5	312	282	George Halas
San Francisco 49ers	7–6–1	309	305	Jack Christiansen

The Rams were outclassed by nearly every competitive team in the league, particularly in point differential. While teams like Green Bay and Baltimore contended for championships, Los Angeles remained mired in mediocrity, finishing near the bottom in both offense and defense.

Why It Matters

The 1965 season exemplified the Rams’ struggles during the mid-1960s, a period defined by coaching instability and underperformance. This season contributed to growing pressure on Harland Svare, who was dismissed after the 1966 campaign.

Coaching Legacy: Harland Svare’s tenure (1962–1966) ended with a 21–38–3 record, making him one of the least successful head coaches in Rams history.
Player Development: Quarterback Roman Gabriel showed flashes of potential but was hampered by injuries, delaying his emergence as a full-time starter until later years.
Franchise Direction: The team’s poor performance highlighted the need for a rebuild, eventually leading to the hiring of George Allen in 1966.
Historical Context: The 1965 season occurred before the AFL-NFL merger, during a time when the Rams were overshadowed by rivals like the 49ers and Colts.
Stadium Legacy: The continued use of the Coliseum reflected the team’s deep roots in Los Angeles despite on-field struggles.
Fan Engagement: Attendance remained relatively strong, with average crowds exceeding 40,000 per home game, showing enduring local support.

The 1965 Los Angeles Rams season is remembered as a low point in a rebuilding era, but it laid the groundwork for future improvements under new leadership in the late 1960s.