In their 15th season in St. Louis, the 2009 Rams (then the St. Louis Rams) were led by the standout performance of Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson, who rushed for an impressive 1,416 yards. Despite a challenging 1-15 transition year under first-year head coach Steve Spagnuolo, the team secured a hard-fought 17-10 victory over the Detroit Lions and showcased defensive potential with rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis leading the team in tackles.