The 1977 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 40th year with the National Football League and the 32nd season in Los Angeles. Hobbled by chronic knee woes, Joe Namath was waived by the New York Jets, who were unable to trade him. Namath signed with the L.A. Rams in May 1977. Hope of a revival was stirred when they won two of their first three games, but Namath was hampered by low mobility. After a poor performance in a Monday night loss to the Bears, Namath never saw NFL game action again. Head coach Chuck Knox was fired after a playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings due to frustration by the ownership of him not being able to reach the Super Bowl.