Dick Steinberg, Former Ram Executive, Dies at 60 of Cancer

Dick Steinberg, the architect of the Los Angeles Rams’ only Super Bowl appearance, died Monday of stomach cancer at 60.

Steinberg had been the general manager of the New York Jets for the last six years, but he is best known for leading to Super Bowls two teams that have not returned since--the Rams in 1979 and the New England Patriots in 1985.

Steinberg spent four years, 1976-80, in the Rams’ front office as director of college scouting and later director of player personnel. He drafted future stars Bob Brudzinski, Nolan Cromwell, Wendell Tyler and Vince Ferragamo all in the same spring. That team matured to win the NFC championship after the 1979 season before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV, 31-19.

“Today is a very sad day. . . . Dick is a loss to pro football in a lot of ways,” said Steve Rosenbloom, who was the Rams’ assistant to the president during three of the Steinberg years. “You know what is happening in the game today and you know, there aren’t very many like him around anymore.”

Steinberg continued to work after learning last December that he was suffering from cancer.

Many in the Jets’ organization figured Steinberg was nearing the end when he was awarded a game ball after the Jets’ victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars two weeks ago.

“Dick was always signing the kind of guys who wouldn’t give up,” Rosenbloom said. “It sounds kind of corny. But it worked.”