Maxie Baughan wanted out of Philadelphia after the Eagles’ success faded, and he got his wish in 1966 when George Allen traded for him. The move put him about as far from the City of Brotherly Love as the league allowed. Allen made him the defensive captain and signal-caller right away, and Baughan thrived in the role. He was a smart, physical linebacker who studied film constantly and called the majority of the defensive plays. Playing behind the Fearsome Foursome, he cleaned up on the second level and kept the unit organized.

He earned Pro Bowl selections in each of his first four seasons with the Rams, extending a streak that already included three with the Eagles. In 1969, he was named First-Team All-Pro, and he received Second-Team recognition in the three years before that. The Rams reached the playoffs in 1967 and 1969 and won two Playoff Bowls during his time. Baughan led those defenses on the field, calling alignments and making adjustments on nearly every snap. He stayed healthy and productive through the late 1960s while the team remained competitive.

The four Pro Bowl years and the 1969 All-Pro season were the high points. Injuries caught up with him in 1970. He played only 10 games that season, and the production dropped. The physical toll of a decade of linebacker play became harder to ignore. He retired after that year rather than continue through the wear and tear.

Baughan left the Rams after five seasons as a four-time Pro Bowler and a First-Team All-Pro who had captained the defense. The early stretch in Los Angeles brought the individual honors and the playoff appearances. The final season was limited by injury. He briefly returned in 1974 as a player-coach for George Allen in Washington, but the bulk of his productive work was done. He finished his Rams tenure as one of the more consistent linebackers of the era and a key piece of those Allen-led defenses.