Fearsome Foursome ( American football ) The " Fearsome Foursome " was a title first used in reporting American Professional Football , when referring to the dominating defensive lines of the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League in the early 1960s , the New York Giants , Detroit Lions and most widely , the Los Angeles Rams of the 1960s and 1970s . Professional Football teams . New York Giants . In the 1957 season the New York Daily News , a major New York city tabloid , ran an article and sketches of the New York Giant defensive line consisting of ends Andy Robustelli and Jim Katcavage , and tackles Rosey Grier and Dick Modzelewski and a headline that read " A Fearsome Foursome . " San Diego Chargers . The nickname " Fearsome Foursome " was first regularly used to describe the American Football League ' s Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers ' defensive front four , including starters DE Ron Nery , DT Bill Hudson , DT Ernie Ladd , and DE Earl Faison . The Chargers moved to San Diego in 1961 , and Faison made overall AFL Rookie of the Year , a rare feat for a defensive player . Alternate members of the group included DE Bob Petrich , DT George Gross , and DE - DT Henry Schmidt . At the time Gross and Ladd were two of the largest and strongest men in Professional Football . The Chargers ' Foursome helped them reach the first two American Football League Championship games and five altogether , winning the AFL Championship in 1963 with a 51 - 10 thumping of the Boston Patriots . Detroit Lions ( 1962 ) . The nickname " Fearsome Foursome " was later used to describe the 1962 Detroit Lions line of Roger Brown , Alex Karras , Darris McCord , and Sam Williams . Los Angeles Rams . Still later , Rosey Grier was acquired from the New York Giants in 1963 to join Lamar Lundy , Merlin Olsen and Deacon Jones as the Los Angeles Rams starting defensive line . They also became known as the " Fearsome Foursome " , and the greater publicity garnered by the NFL leads many to assume they were the originals . Dick Butkus called them " the most dominant line in football history . " They gained fame as the Rams went from a perennial second division , under . 500 team to a NFL powerhouse under coach George Allen . Roger Brown replaced Grier in 1967 , and Diron Talbert replaced Brown in 1970 . Also in 1970 Coy Bacon replaced Lamar Lundy . The line was ultimately broken up when George Allen became coach of the Washington Redskins in 1971 ; Talbert and Deacon Jones followed Allen via trades in 1972 and Bacon left in 1973 . After missing the playoffs from 1970 – 72 , the Rams then won 7 straight division titles from 1973 to 1979 , and were led in part by " The New Fearsome Foursome . " This line consisted of ends Jack Youngblood and Fred Dryer , and tackles Merlin Olsen and Larry Brooks . Youngblood and Olsen are NFL hall of famers while Brooks made the Pro Bowl 5 times . Dryer also made the Pro Bowl once , and set an NFL record with 2 safeties in one game vs . the Packers . Olsen retired after a 15 year career at the end of the 1976 season , and he was replaced for one year by his younger brother Phil Olsen and then by Mike Fanning . Detroit Lions ( 2011 ) . The nickname " Fearsome Foursome " has locally been used by the newly formed defensive line of the 2011 Detroit Lions , consisting of 2010 Rookie of the Year Ndamukong Suh , Pro - bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch , Cliff Avril and new draft pick Nick Fairley .