Rams Old Logo vs. New: A Before-and-After Design Evaluation
A side-by-side look at the Los Angeles Rams logo before and after the 2020 rebrand: the shapes, colors and structure that changed, the documented facts, and what to verify before using either version.
Contents
The short answer
When people compare the old and new Rams logos, they usually mean the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. In 2020, ahead of the move into their new stadium, the team replaced its navy-and-gold ram-head identity with a new primary mark: an "LA" monogram with a ram's horn curling out of the letterforms, in brighter blue and yellow. The old logo was illustrative, a detailed ram's head. The new one is typographic, built from letters, with the horn as the main symbolic element. That shift from mascot illustration to city monogram is the most important difference between the two.
Several other teams also use the Rams name, including Colorado State, Fordham and Rhode Island. Their logo histories are separate and are not covered here. If you are researching one of those programs, check that team's own identity materials.
What this comparison is based on
No source documents, official style guides or logo files were supplied for this article. The comparison draws on widely reported, publicly documented facts about the rebrand and on general visual descriptions of the marks. It contains no measurements, exact color values or geometry. Before production work, confirm details such as official color specifications, the dates each version was in use, and approved lockups against the team's or the league's current brand materials.
Before and after at a glance
| Aspect | Old logo (navy-and-gold era) | New logo (2020 rebrand) |
| Primary concept | Illustrated ram's head | "LA" monogram with a curling ram horn |
| What it emphasizes | The mascot | The city, with the mascot as an accent |
| Color direction | Darker navy with metallic-style gold | Brighter royal-style blue with a vivid yellow |
| Visual style | Detailed, with internal linework and shading-style shapes | Flatter, built on letterforms and a single sweeping curve |
| Small-size behavior (general expectation) | Fine interior detail can fill in at small sizes | Bold letter shapes usually hold up better, though thin horn tips need checking |
| Relationship to helmet horn | Separate from the helmet's painted-horn design | The curling horn echoes the team's long-standing horn motif |
The table mixes two kinds of statement. The concept, subject matter and general color direction are observable from the logos themselves. The small-size behavior row is an editorial expectation based on common design principles, not a tested result.
What changed, and why it matters
Documented: the team introduced the new identity in 2020, alongside its new stadium. Coverage at the time noted that the colors had moved toward a brighter blue and yellow, which many associate with the franchise's earlier Los Angeles years. Also documented: the public reaction to the monogram was mixed, and a lot of fan commentary was critical.
The rest of this section is interpretation. Putting "LA" at the center makes the new mark mostly about place, which suits a franchise re-establishing itself in Los Angeles. Moving the ram from a full head to a horn makes the mascot more abstract. That gives the logo a cleaner silhouette, but it relies on viewers already linking the horn shape to the Rams. The horn also connects to the team's helmet design, which has used painted horns since the late 1940s and is usually described as the first helmet logo in pro football. So the redesign draws on an existing team asset rather than inventing a new one.
Practical implications for vector work
- Choose the version that matches the period you are depicting. Historical content about the St. Louis years or the 2016–2019 return to Los Angeles should use the older ram-head identity, not the 2020 monogram.
- Inspect the artwork before trusting it. A file with a vector extension may still contain embedded raster images, traced shapes or redrawn approximations. Open it and check for clean paths, closed shapes and sensible anchor-point counts.
- Check the horn curve at small sizes. Thin curved tips are where monogram logos tend to break down, so test favicon and small-print sizes before you finalize anything.
- Do not guess the colors. The old and new palettes are different, and approximate blues and golds are a common source of inaccurate reproductions. Use the official specifications.
- Availability is not permission. NFL team logos are protected trademarks. Being able to download a file, including one labeled "free" or "vector", does not grant the right to use it commercially or in a modified form. Editorial, licensed or otherwise approved uses each have their own limits.
Verdict
The old Rams logo is a classic mascot mark: detailed, darker and centered on the animal. The new logo is a modern monogram: brighter, flatter and centered on Los Angeles, with the horn carrying the team's identity. Whether the change is an improvement depends on what you value. If you value mascot recognition and tradition, the old head holds up. If you value scalability, local identity and a simpler silhouette, the new monogram has the stronger case. For any project that uses either mark, confirm the correct version, the official colors and your usage rights first.