Editor’s note: Archive video is posted with this story.
ST. LOUIS – With the 2025 NFL Draft just days away, we’ve reached a notable anniversary in St. Louis football history. A moment when the NFL Rams believed they had finally found a long-awaited savior and franchise quarterback.
But as history would show, things didn’t quite unfold as planned.
On April 22, 2010, exactly 15 years ago from Tuesday, the St. Louis Rams selected University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford with the first overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
One decade and a half later, Bradford’s selection remains a pivotal chapter in the Rams’ turbulent years in St. Louis – a decision fueled by hope, but ultimately undone by circumstance.
In the end, despite flashes of promise, Bradford’s time in St. Louis fell short of expectations. Plagued by a series of injuries, Bradford was never able to find lasting consistency, and the Rams never finished above .500 or made playoffs during his time as the the starter.
For St. Louis, making matters worse, the Rams franchise relocated to Los Angeles just one year after parting ways with Bradford for good, leaving behind an era defined by unmet promise and transition.
Why The St. Louis Rams Wanted Bradford
The Rams’ decision to draft Sam Bradford followed a time-tested NFL blueprint: Draft a highly-touted, pro-ready quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick to lead a franchise out of disarray.
Bradford came with impressive credentials: A Heisman Trophy, polished mechanics, high football IQ and a calm steady demeanor. For a Rams team coming off a brutal 1-15 season and still searching for stability at quarterback after the years of Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger, Bradford checked nearly every box.
In 2008, his Heisman season, Bradford threw for 4,720 passing yards and 50 touchdowns over 14 games with just eight interceptions, leading a high-powered Oklahoma Sooners to a 12-2 record, a Big 12 championship and a Top 5 finish in the AP college football polls.
While Bradford missed most of the 2009 college season with a shoulder injury, he was widely regarded as the most NFL-ready quarterback in his class. Scouts praised his prototypical size, clean release, sharp decision-making and composure under pressure, all traits the Rams desperately needed to succeed.
While other options were available at quarterback, Braford stood out as a potential cornerstone to build around heading into a new decade of Rams football. His selection was both a football move and a statement of intent.
In July 2010, Bradford signed a six-year, $78 million deal, which made it the largest contract at the time for an NFL rookie, including $50 million guaranteed. Although the contract would later become a case study in rookie wage reform, it reflected just how committed the Rams were to making him the face of their future.
Recapping Bradford’s St. Louis Career
Bradford’s time with the Rams began with promise. He enjoyed a respectable rookie season with 3,512 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 60% completion percentage, named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Rams narrowly missed the playoffs with a 7-9 record, losing a decisive tiebreaker matchup to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17.
Bradford’s anticipated debut season gave fans and the franchise reason for optimism, but the momentum quickly stalled. It was one of only two times he would make every possible start in a season.
In 2011, Bradford struggled with a shaky supporting cast, most notably with the offensive line and reliable playmakers. A high-ankle sprain limited Bradford to 10 games. The Rams went 1-9 in games he started and finished 2-14 overall. That put St. Louis in position for the No. 2 overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft with enticing college quarterback standouts Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III readily available. However, the Rams remained committed to Bradford and traded the No. 2 overall pick to Washington for a haul of future draft picks.
In 2012, the vote of confidence paid off in the short-term. Bradford finished with a career-best 3,702 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, while starting all 16 games. The Rams finished 7-8-1, showing competitive stretches in a tough NFC West. Yet, even as Bradford progressed steadily, the team’s persistent lack of elite receivers and offensive linemen continued to limited his ceiling.
In 2013, the Rams made a concentrated effort to upgrade around Bradford, bolstering the offensive line, signing tight end Jared Cook and drafting electric wide receiver Tavon Austin. Bradford appeared to be finding his top form, tossing 14 touchdowns over seven games. But his season ended abruptly in October when he tore his left ACL in a road matchup against the Carolina Panthers while scrambling out of bounds.
Little did St. Louis know at the time, that would be Bradford’s last game with the Rams. Tragically, he re-tore the same ACL during the 2014 preseason.
After 2014, with little progress to show for their big investment, the Rams reluctantly traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles in a deal that brought back Nick Foles, another quarterback with unfulfilled potential to that point of his career.
All told, Bradford’s career as a St. Louis Ram ended with 59 touchdowns, 32 interceptions and more than 11,000 passing yards over 49 games played. The Rams went 18-30-1 in his starts.
Bradford played parts of four more seasons with the Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals before retiring after 2018. He had some moments of revival, particularly in Minnesota, but never lived up to the lofty pedigree that came with being a No. 1 overall pick.
Lasting Impact Of Bradford’s St. Louis Career
For better or for worse, Bradford brought hope and credibility to a Rams franchise that struggled to develop elite talent and forge a lasting bond with the St. Louis fanbase after nearly a decade of mediocrity and missed opportunities.
Bradford’s arrival provided a glimmer of hope, and attendance at the then-named Edward Jones Dome modestly improved in his first few years, averaging around 57,000 fans per game (out of 66,6000). However, the attendance improvements didn’t seem to matter much when Rams owner Stan Kroenke relocated the team to Los Angeles in 2016.
Bradford’s injuries, particularly his first ACL tear in 2013, have left many Rams fans wondering “What If?” The timing was oftentimes devastating and derailed any momentum the Ram sought as it appeared the team was starting to turn a corner.
Additionally, the turnover in coaching and teammates was rampant during Bradford’s time in St. Louis. He cycled through two head coaches (Steve Spagnuolo and Jeff Fischer) while rarely able to find the right mix of skills that helped him thrive in college. The supporting cast of offensive linemen, wide receivers and running backs lacked the starpower of marquee names of the Rams’ previous golden era, unable to meet the standards of Marshall Faulk, Orlando Pace and Torry Holt from the “Greatest Show on Turf” years.
Bradford himself wasn’t a controversial figure off the field, but his quiet and reserved personality often made him blend into the background. While his calm demeanor was admired, some felt it may have prevented him from becoming a more dynamic presence in a era the Rams may have needed a more outspoken leader.
Beyond his on-field performance, Bradford’s rookie contract (6 years, $78 million, $50 million guaranteed) was the last of its kind before the NFL changed its collective bargaining agreement to reform the rookie wage scale. The massive deal he signed in 2010 set a precedent for top draft picks, illustrating the risks and rewards of investing heavily in a young, unproven player.
As for the Rams, one could make a compelling argument that Bradford’s tenure in St. Louis may have delayed a true rebuild. The Rams were committed to him as a centerpiece for several years, hoping they could quickly turn things around with him at the helm after several seasons of mediocrity. The Rams preached patience, but their commitment to Bradford, combined with his injuries and lack of consistency around him, may left the team in limbo, neither fully embracing a rebuild or contending.
While it would be unfair to say Bradford’s downfall directly cause the Rams’ move from St. Louis to Los Angeles, one can’t help but wonder whether the franchise’s future in St. Louis could have been different had he had more sustained success on the field. Better results may have bought the Rams more time in St. Louis, but in the end, Bradford’s rise and fall was one small piece in a puzzle of broader issues facing the franchise that led to the move to Los Angeles.
The Verdict
Bradford’s time in St. Louis was a mixed bag. It brought moments of promise, though marred with injuries and inconsistency. For St. Louis fans, it remains a compelling chapter of a franchise that desperately hoped for a return to relevance but instead found itself stuck in a perpetual state of longing for something greater.
2025 NFL Draft
The 2025 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 24 and runs through Saturday, April 26. ESPN and NFL Network will carry live coverage of the NFL Draft. The Tennessee Titans currently hold the first overall pick.