The 10 Greatest NFL Players From the State of Kansas
By Erik Lambert
#7: Nolan Cromwell
The Los Angeles Rams had some really good defenses in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It’s why they made it to a number of conference championship games and even the Super Bowl in ’79. A man who played a pivotal part in that success was safety Nolan Cromwell. A classic case of a guy being overshadows by the heavy talent playing in front of him. The Rams had guys like Jack Youngblood on that defense, so it was difficult for guys like Cromwell to get noticed.
It’s hard to think a four-time Pro Bowler struggles with such things but that’s the way it goes. It didn’t stop him from doing his job. Cromwell was a classic robber safety. Quarterbacks needed to be wary of putting the ball up in his territory because he was liable to take it away. In just nine seasons as a starter he collected 36 interceptions. That’s pretty damn good production for such a limited span. If only he’s been given his opportunity sooner.