The Los Angeles Rams have been home to NFL family royalty for the last seven years with Chris Shula. The son of former NFL head coach Dave Shula and the grandson of Hall of Famer Don Shula, Chris has no shortage of coaching acumen in his lineage.
He joined the league coaching ranks in 2015 — when he was 29 years old — as a defensive quality control coach for the San Diego Chargers.
Now, after nine years in the league and seven with the Rams, he could be getting one of his first big chances at an opportunity with the Miami Dolphins. The Rams promoted Shula to pass rush coordinator and linebackers coach prior to the 2023 season. It is his fifth position with the Rams in seven years, as he went from assistant linebackers coach to pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach and everything in between.
Now, the Dolphins are reportedly giving him an interview for their coveted defensive coordinator role, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network:
The #Dolphins are interviewing Chris Shula — grandson of legendary coach Don Shula — for their defensive coordinator job today, per source.
Chris Shula has spent the past seven seasons as an assistant with the #Rams, most recently as pass rush coordinator/linebackers coach. pic.twitter.com/R8G83MWtNd
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 1, 2024
The Rams coaching staff from 2023 has been highly sought after. It’s normal for Sean McVay’s coaches to get poached at the end of each season, but 2023 was a particularly impressive year for the staff. Just about every coach was working with a less experienced unit than they had in year’s past, and nearly every unit exceeded expectations.
For Shula, the linebacker unit included Ernest Jones, Troy Reeder, Christian Rozeboom, Michael Hoecht and rookie Byron Young. Pro Football Focus began the season by ranking them the worst linebacker unit in the NFL. And yet, Young finished with a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection, Jones continued his ascension, and Hoecht had a career year.
Shula would have some big shoes to fill if he was hired to replace Vic Fangio in Miami, but he’s proven he is up to the task.
Rams interviewd Chris Shula for DC
The Rams also have an opening at their defensive coordinator position because Raheem Morris was hired as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. And one of the many candidates to receive an initial interview with the Rams was Shula. It’s unclear if he has been moved along in the process or if he’s been informed he won’t be hired.
