Eric Dickerson: 'St Louis Rams belong in Los Angeles'

Published: July 26 2015 | 22:16

Last updated: July 27 2015 | 00:23

Former Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson believes that the now-St Louis-based franchise should return to LA.

Eric Dickerson has backed speculation that the St Louis Rams' could return to Los Angeles, claiming that they "belong" in the city.

The NFC West side moved to St Louis in 1995, the same year that the Raiders moved from LA to Oakland, leaving America's second-largest city without an NFL franchise.

The former LA Rams running back told ESPN: "Honestly, I'm hoping the Rams come back. I do go to St Louis, they're still the Rams and the team I played for, but a lot of guys feel the same way. They'd like to have them back here in town.

"We need a team now, and I think the perfect fit would be the Los Angeles Rams, I believe the Rams belong here [in Los Angeles]. If the Rams come, they have a great owner in Stan Kroenke, and it's a different organisation than when I played.

"I just think it would be great. I don't think you'll find one person who will say LA shouldn't have a team. If they do, they don't like football. I think we do need a team here."

The city has approved plans to build a football stadium in Hollywood Park which Kroenke will be a partner in, with the Raiders and San Diego Chargers also linked with a move to LA.