1999 St. Louis Rams "Greatest Show on Turf"
1999 St. Louis Rams PPG - 32.9 PPG
1999 St. Louis Opponents PPG - 15.1 PPG
1999 League Average PPG - 22.0 PPG
The 1999 St. Louis Rams entered the season with +15,000 odds to win the Super Bowl, they came out of nowhere and blew everyone away. They were the first "dome team" and the first "worst-to-first" squad to win the Super Bowl, having finished last in their division just a year earlier. It was the franchise’s first NFL championship since 1951 and their only title during the St. Louis era.
After a disappointing 1998 season, the Rams' front office made bold moves to reshape the team, signing quarterback Trent Green, trading for running back Marshall Faulk, drafting wide receiver Torry Holt, and hiring Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. Martz's high-octane system, combined with Dick Vermeil’s leadership, transformed the Rams' offense into a dynamic force that redefined how the game was played. Behind the scenes, VP John Shaw pushed for this reset, orchestrating the acquisition of Green from Washington and making Tony Banks expendable, which led to his trade to Baltimore. This set the stage for Kurt Warner’s improbable rise from third-string backup to NFL MVP. The Rams further strengthened their roster by adding veteran guard Adam Timmerman and linebacker Todd Collins, crafting a balanced, championship-caliber team.
The 1999 Rams, powered by the high-flying offense dubbed "The Greatest Show on Turf," dominated the NFL, scoring a league-high 32.9 points per game and finishing the regular season 13–3. Quarterback Kurt Warner, who stepped in for an injured Trent Green, was named NFL MVP after passing for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns. Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk led the league with 2,429 yards from scrimmage, while Isaac Bruce earned a Pro Bowl nod with 1,165 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. The defense, led by Kevin Carter's 17 sacks, was just as impressive, allowing only 15.1 points per game. The Rams also triumphed over divisional rivals, including the San Francisco 49ers, to win the NFC West.
It was perfect. Because it really was the greatest show on turf...The whole team just had a swag to them, and it was electrifying." - Nelly
In the playoffs, the Rams beat the Vikings 49–37 in the NFC Divisional Round, survived a brutal 11–6 win over Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship.
Super Bowl XXXIV featured a clash between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans in Atlanta. The Rams, led by MVP quarterback Kurt Warner and their high-powered offense, jumped to a 16–0 lead. However, the Titans mounted a comeback, tying the game at 16–16 late in the fourth quarter. With under two minutes left, Warner connected with Isaac Bruce for a 73-yard touchdown, giving the Rams a 23–16 lead. The Titans had one last chance to respond, driving to the Rams' 10-yard line with just seconds remaining. On the final play, Steve McNair’s pass to Kevin Dyson was tackled at the 1-yard line by Rams linebacker Mike Jones as time expired, sealing the Rams' victory and their first-ever Super Bowl championship.
That postseason run included the first NFL playoff game ever played in St. Louis, followed by a championship parade downtown. Warner, the former supermarket bagger turned NFL Europe quarterback, became both regular season and Super Bowl MVP. Faulk was unstoppable. Bruce was back and dangerous. Rookie wideout Torry Holt was already stretching defenses. Orlando Pace anchored the left side of the line. Adam Timmerman brought championship pedigree. And Mike Jones made the play that sealed it all.
The 1999 Rams became the third St. Louis-based professional sports team to win a major title, joining the nine-time World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals and the 1957–58 St. Louis Hawks of the NBA. The city would later celebrate two more World Series wins and a Stanley Cup by the St. Louis Blues in 2019, making St. Louis one of only eight cities to win a championship in each of the four major U.S. sports.
Kurt Warner’s rise from anonymity to MVP became the centerpiece of the Rams’ Cinderella story. The offense thrived not just on talent but on philosophy, rooted in discipline, spread formations, and a powerful offensive line that protected multiple weapons across the field.
Turf Legends - Key Players
Dick Vermeil - Head Coach
The veteran coach from Calistoga Wine Country instilled a relentless work ethic and belief in his players. Hiring Mike Martz and supporting the bold offensive vision turned underdogs into champions. Vermeil called Martz “the greatest impact assistant I’ve had… Without him we don’t go.”
Kurt Warner - Quarterback
1999 Stats: 4,353 passing yards, 41 TDs (65.1% completion)
1999 NFL Awards: NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, All-Pro, Pro Bowl
Super Bowl XXXIV: 414 passing yards, 2 TDs, Super Bowl MVP
Warner’s meteoric rise from grocery store clerk to NFL MVP in just over a year provided poise, precision, and leadership. His ability to stretch the field and deliver in clutch moments (especially that 73-yard TD to Bruce late in the Super Bowl) anchored the "Greatest Show on Turf".
Marshall Faulk - Running Back
1999 Stats: 1,381 rushing yards (5.5 ypc), 7 TDs / 87 receptions for 1,048 yards, 5 receiving TDs
1999 NFL Awards: NFL Offensive Player of The year, All-Pro, Pro Bowl
Super Bowl XXXIV: 17 yards rushing, 90 receiving yards
Faulk’s unprecedented versatility as a elusive runner, exceptional pass-catcher, made him the ultimate chess piece. Defenses couldn’t scheme against him, fueling the Rams’ dual-threat offense. His 2,429 scrimmage yards remain among the best ever.
Issac Bruce - Wide Receiver
1999 Stats: 77 receptions, 1,165 yards, 12 touchdowns
1999 NFL Awards: Pro Bowl
Super Bowl XXXIV: 6 catches, 162 yards, including the iconic 73-yard go-ahead TD with 1:54 left
Bruce provided veteran savvy and deep-threat excellence. That iconic Super Bowl catch showcased his clutch ability and solidified his place in Rams lore. Underrated historically, but pivotal in 1999.
Torey Holt - Wide Receiver
1999 Stats: 52 catches, 788 yards, 6 touchdowns
Super Bowl XXXIV: 7 catches for 109 yards in Super Bowl XXXIV, rookie record
Holt’s speed and route-running stretched defenses, opening space for Faulk and Warner. As the youngest WR, his emerging talent added modern explosiveness to the passing game.
Az Hakeem - Wide Receiver
1999 Stats: 36 receptions, 677 yards, 8 touchdowns
Super Bowl XXXIV: 6 catches, 162 yards, including the iconic 73-yard go-ahead TD with 1:54 left
Hakim was the Rams’ secret weapon. His speed and shiftiness as both a receiver and returner brought explosive upside. His big-play ability kept opposing defenses honest, while his special teams impact always flipped field position.
Orlando Pace - Offensive Tackle
1999 Stats: Pro Bowl & All-Pro Selection
1999 NFL Awards: Pro Bowl, All-Pro Selection
Often called the Rams’ best player, Pace’s lockdown at left tackle was crucial. He provided elite protection for Warner and anchored the line of an offense that ran at breakneck pace and relied heavily on pass efficiency.
DeMarcco Far - Middle Linebacker
1999 Stats: Recorded 8.5 sacks from middle linebacker
As the heart of the defense, Farr’s hard-hitting, impressive pass-rush from the MLB spot brought balance. His leadership and pressure-making were vital complements to the high-octane offense.
Mike Martz - Offensive Coordinator
Martz’s offensive philosophy, rooted in Don Coryell's Air Coryell system, revolutionized the NFL with its aggressive passing attack and intricate route combinations. While Coryell emphasized deep vertical routes and precise timing, Martz amplified these elements, introducing empty backfield sets, pre-snap motions, and a reliance on quick, rhythmic passing to exploit defensive mismatches. This approach not only maximized the talents of players like Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, and Isaac Bruce but also redefined offensive strategies in the league
Aftermath
The St. Louis Rams were well poised to make a multi-year run at the Super Bowl, positioned to become the NFL's next great dynasty. The 1999 team had shattered offensive records and captured the imagination of fans across the league. With Hall of Fame-caliber talent on both sides of the ball and Mike Martz's innovative offensive system, it looked like the “Greatest Show on Turf” was just getting started. t. Louis averaged 33.8 points per game in 2000, about a point more than in 1999, when the Rams were also an offensive powerhouse, and a couple more than in 2001.
2000: Offensive Explosion, Defensive Collapse
In 2000, the Rams' offense continued to dominate, putting up 540 points, even more than their historic 1999 total. Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk (NFL MVP), Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, and Az Hakim lit up scoreboards all season. However, their defense plummeted to last in the league, and despite a 10–6 record, they lost in the Wild Card round to the New Orleans Saints.
2001: Return to the Super Bowl
The Rams rebounded in 2001 with a more balanced roster. Warner and Faulk again led the league’s top offense, and the defense dramatically improved with young stars like Aeneas Williams. They finished the regular season 14–2 and returned to the Super Bowl (XXXVI), this time as heavy favorites against the underdog New England Patriots. But in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history, the Rams fell 20–17 on a last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri—launching the Patriots dynasty and ending the Rams’.
The Decline: Injuries, Departures & Lost Momentum
After 2001, key injuries, internal disputes, and free agency losses chipped away at the Rams’ core. Mike Martz’s tenure as head coach (after Vermeil’s retirement post-1999) grew increasingly volatile. Kurt Warner battled injuries and was eventually replaced by Marc Bulger. Faulk's knees began to wear down. Hakim left in free agency. Bruce and Holt remained elite, but the magic of the “Greatest Show on Turf” had faded.
Legacy of Greatest Show on Turf
Despite not becoming a long-term dynasty, the Rams from 1999–2001 changed the NFL. They were the first team in league history to score over 500 points in three consecutive seasons, and their fast-paced, pass-heavy offense paved the way for the high-octane systems seen across the NFL today. With four Hall of Famers—Warner, Faulk, Bruce, and Pace—and unforgettable moments, the Greatest Show on Turf remains one of the most electrifying, innovative, and impactful eras in football history.