NFL Rumor: Los Angeles Won’t Be Getting Team In 2015, Raiders And Rams Fans Can Breathe Easier

The Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams can breathe a bit easier — reports say that the NFL isn’t planning on awarding a franchise to Los Angeles in the coming year.

There have been increasing rumors that the league is prepared to move not one but two franchises to the nation’s second-largest city, which has been without a team since the early 1990s with the departure of the Raiders.

Rumors have focused on the Raiders and Rams as the most likely candidates to return to Los Angeles.

But now NFL insider Adam Schefter is reporting that the league isn’t ready to award a franchise to Los Angeles just yet.

Roger Goodell told the Chargers, Raiders and Rams this week that there will not be a team that moves to LA for next season, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 20, 2014

The news doesn’t necessarily mean that the Raiders and Rams are in the clear just yet. Insiders have said the NFL is committed to bringing teams back to Los Angeles, and both of the top candidates have issues with their stadium leases.

The Raiders do not have a lease for the upcoming NFL season, and the city’s attempt to strike a deal has gone nowhere. The situation became so bad that earlier this year, officials from the Raiders traveled to San Antonio to discuss the possibility of a move there.

The Rams are also in the final year of their lease, and do not appear to have a resolution.

There are other signs pointing to a NFL franchise in Los Angeles very soon. Earlier this fall, Los Angeles media outlet KFWB-AM reported that AEG is currently hiring employees that would work for the relocated team.

“On ‘The Home Team’ this morning, Jeanne Zelasko reported that she had been making calls in regards to an NFL team coming to Los Angeles and found out that AEG (who is currently working on the downtown Farmer’s Field location outside of Staples Center) has been working to hire a Public Relations person to handle an NFL team that could start the process of moving to L.A. in February 2015.”

There are also signs that the teams could be backing out of plans to move to Los Angeles. The San Diego Chargers, once considered a candidate, announced that they would not be opting out of their lease. The St. Louis Rams also began offering 2015 season ticket packages to fans.

[Image via AARoads.com]