By Darin Hayes October 26, 1930 – Les Richter was a linebacker from the University of California who eventually played in the NFL for the LA Rams.
It was a crazy path for Richter to get to the Rams. He was actually picked in the 1952 NFL draft by the New York Yanks franchise, but a couple of days after the draft, the Yanks franchise folded! Profootballhof.com explains that Les’s NFL rights were then transferred to the new expansion team, the Dallas Texans. The Rams ended up trading 11 players to the Texans to get the rights to Richter a short time later.
The Rams waited patiently for a couple of seasons for Les to complete his military obligation. Then the coveted player gave the franchise nine exciting seasons, during which he made eight straight Pro Bowls and was voted an All-Pro on six of them. Besides playing linebacker, Richter also spent time as a kicker and occasionally played center for the Rams when needed. The Pro Football Hall of Fame selected Les Richter to be a part of their 2011 enshrinement class.