The Los Angeles Rams announced their coaching staff for the 2023 season, confirming a lot of previous reports regarding additions.
Head coach Sean McVay’s staff includes nine new additions, including the return of Aubrey Pleasant, as well as 11 returnees.
Raheem Morris returns to the Rams to serve as their defensive coordinator for a third season. Morris was a finalist in the Indianapolis Colts’ head coaching search, but after they went in a different direction, he fortunately came back to lead the defense for Los Angeles.
For the offense, Mike LaFleur was tapped to become McVay’s new offensive coordinator after he and the New York Jets decided to part ways. LaFleur spent two seasons with the Jets but also worked with the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons.
Another key new face is Jimmy Lake, who will serve as the new assistant head coach. Thomas Brown previously held the title before he was hired by the Carolina Panthers to become their new offensive coordinator. Lake has a wealth of experience at the collegiate level, most recently serving as the head coach for the University of Washington. However, he’s also been in the NFL before, serving as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The defensive side of the field features four new faces, though they have a familiar coach in Pleasant, who returns to Los Angeles to serve as their defensive backs/passing game coordinator. The other three new coaches are assistant defensive line coach Andrew Carter, outside linebackers coach Joe Congilio and defensive assistant Mike Harris. Returners are secondary coach Chris Beake, defensive line coach/run game coordinator Eric Henderson and inside linebackers/pass rush coordinator Chris Shula.
For the offense, there will be three newbies to McVay’s staff. After serving six seasons with the New England Patriots as their tight ends coach, Nick Caley comes to the Rams to serve in the same role. Ryan Wendell becomes the new offensive line coach after four years as an assistant offensive line coach with the Buffalo Bills. Ron Gould joins the NFL ranks as L.A.’s new running backs coach shortly after being named the associate head coach and running backs coach at San Diego State University.
There’s more continuity on the offensive side of the field as offensive assistant K.J. Black, offensive assistant Nick Jones, assistant offensive line coach Zak Kromer, pass game specialist Jake Peetz, quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator Zac Robinson and wide receivers coach Eric Yarber will be returning.
Lastly, special teams has a new coordinator in Chase Blackburn who spent time with the Tennessee Titans and Panthers. Jeremy Springer returns for a second season as their assistant special teams coach.
