Inductees

In early 1999, with most of pro football assuming the St. Louis Rams wouldn’t be much of anything that fall, Mike Martz took a detour back to the Gateway Arch.

“I was coaching at Washington in 1997 and 1998 and got a call from the Rams, who were offering the offensive coordinator job,” said Martz, who had coached on the Rams staff from 1992 to 1997. “I initially turned it down because I was going to take a job in Chicago. In the end, the interview with Dick Vermeil clinched it.”

Talk about a decision that changed the trajectory of a National Football League franchise. Armed with an inch-thick playbook and an innovative mind that seemed almost computerized, Martz helped fuel the “Greatest Show on Turf” over the next six seasons.

Which is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Martz with the Class of 2025.

With him as offensive coordinator, Martz designed imaginative plays for quarterback Kurt Warner and tailback Marshall Faulk as the Rams won their first Super Bowl, 23-16, over the Tennessee Titans under Coach Vermeil (MSHOF Legend 2012).

When Vermeil retired, Martz took over the Rams, coaching the 2000 through 2005 seasons. The Rams reached the playoffs four times, winning two NFC West titles, the 2001 NFC Championship and compiled a 56-36 record during Martz’s tenure.

They went 3-4 in the playoffs, highlighted by advancing to Super Bowl XXXVI, where they fell to the New England Patriots.

What a fun whirlwind it was in his time in St. Louis.

“Isaac Bruce hadn’t played for two years with hamstring issues. Az Hakim they felt was too small, and Ricky Proehl too slow. We drafted Torry Holt. We signed Marshall Faulk in free agency. We also signed Trent Green as our quarterback,” Martz said of his return. “Going into the season, everyone still felt we would be a last-place team. The talent met opportunity, and the rest is history.”

Martz retooled the offensive line first and built the offense around Faulk. In preseason, however, it all looked to fall apart when Green suffered a season-ending injury. The backup was a former Arena League QB, Kurt Warner. Martz had signed off on him months earlier.

“Dick told me Kurt was interesting because he completed everything on scout team against the defense,” Martz said. “Everyone wanted Jeff Hostetler as our No. 2. Dick left it up to me. I looked at his World League tape, and he was spectacular. Tough guy that was very accurate. I said, ‘Let’s see what he does in mini-camp this spring.’”

Just before the team broke for the summer, Vermeil asked what he thought of Warner.

“I felt strongly he could be a starter … I didn’t know he would be great,’” Martz said.

The Rams finished 13-3 that season, winning their first six games – including a 42-20 victory against San Francisco.

.Against the Titans, Martz adjusted after Tennessee blitzed and took away Faulk. That left one-on-ones.

Two years later, they had the No. 1 offense and No. 2 defense in the NFL.

Said Martz, “I brought in high-energy players and coaches on defense, and set a standard of excellence that we practiced and played by: Give of yourself completely, ask nothing in return, and excellence will be yours.”

Much of his offensive mind was influenced by Don Coryell. You see, Martz grew up in San Diego at a time when Coryell coached at San Diego State, and Sid Gilman was with the San Diego Chargers.

“The Coryell system, or digit system, allows you to be creative,” Martz said. “It gives you a lot of freedom because each call tells everyone what to do. Simple. We would run one play a dozen different ways.”

A former tight end at San Diego Mesa College, California-Santa Barbara and Fresno State, Martz initially coached in college, including at Arizona State from 1983 to 1991. He thanks Ernie Zamese for getting him on the Rams staff a year later and becoming a major influence.

Along the way, Martz had the support of his wife, Julie, and their children, Emily, David, Chris and Tim.

Martz later was the OC for the Lions (2006-07), 49ers (2008) and Bears (2010-11). He retired in 2012.

“Coaching and teaching NFL players was a joy,” Martz said. “They are hungry, a sponge for anything to make them a better player. I loved the game-planning and watching it come to fruition on Sundays.”