Rams to Promote Chris Shula To Defensive Coordinator

The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly promoting assistant Chris Shula to full-time defensive coordinator

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay entered the offseason saying that the only changes to the coaching staff would be brought about by promotions elsewhere.

He’s made good on that promise, but the scope of those promotions continues to grow. Los Angeles has already lost five coaches: defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, assistant head coach Jimmy Lake, defensive line coach Eric Henderson, and assistant special teams coach Jeremy Springer.

But now, they promoted one of their own to fill one of those holes.

According to multiple reports, the Rams will hire pass-rush coordinator and linebackers coach Chris Shula as the team's new defensive coordiantor. 

Nov 26, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Chris Shula against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Shula has been a mainstay of McVay’s staff since they arrived in 2017. McVay is generally hands-off when it comes to the defense – instead opting for veteran defensive minds – but Shula has survived each successive coaching change.

Over his seven seasons with Los Angeles, Shula has held a handful of jobs on his side of the ball. He began as an assistant linebackers coach but has since been the outside linebackers coach, outside linebackers coach, linebackers coach, defensive backs coach, pass-game coordinator, and pass-rush coordinator.

Before his tenure with the Rams began, he spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the then-San Diego Chargers and five in the collegiate ranks.

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Notably, Shula is a part of an exceptionally rare three-generation family coaching tree. His father, David Shula, spent five seasons as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. His grandfather is the legendary coach Don Shula, who holds the record for most wins as a head coach in NFL history.

Don Shula spent nearly three decades with Miami, winning two Super Bowls for the organization his grandson hopes to impress.