Latest Los Angeles Rams news officially confirms end of an era after longest-tenured player retires
The Rams have officially entered a new saga of the team.
The Los Angeles Rams enter a crucial offseason following a disappointing end to the 2025 season. The team has more or less signaled they are ready to go “all-in” this season for one last hurrah with quarterback Matthew Stafford, which means the team has to be as ready as possible with as little holes left.
However, one massive one just opened up a few short weeks after the end of the Rams’ season. The longest-tenured player on the Rams’ roster, right tackle Rob Havenstein, officially announced his retirement on Tuesday.
Havenstein’s retirement marks new chapter for Los Angeles Rams
Havenstein was the last member of the St. Louis Rams on the roster. He was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the same year that the Rams added running back Todd Gurley. Ever since then, he manned the right tackle spot, and was a key cog in two Super Bowl runs and a Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl LVI.
Throughout his career, Havenstein was a model teammate and player for the Rams. He never missed a start, no matter how many injuries he had to battle through, going for 148 games, two shy of Hall of Famer Deacon Jones and the 27th most-played games in Rams’ history.
Despite never being the most athletic lineman, Havenstein made up for it with his high IQ and technical ability. He was the very definition of “veteran savvy”, displaying awesome technique on his way to shutting down opposing pass rushers week in and week out. If injuries didn’t catch up to him, I have no doubt Havenstein would still be playing.
The Rams have his short-term replacement on the roster in Warren McClendon, who took over at right tackle down the stretch. I’ve not yet seen enough to believe he should be the long-term replacement at right tackle, which might make offensive tackle a position to monitor in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Regardless, Havenstein leaves a lasting legacy as one of the most important Rams of the last decade. The Rams would not be where they are as a team and offense without his presence and play at right tackle.