For the second offseason in a row, the Los Angeles Rams will see significant turnover on their coaching staff, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
The reason for that is that after one season as the Rams’ defensive coordinator leading the team to the top-ranked defense in the NFL, Brandon Staley recently took a head coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers.
While the Rams had a number of internal candidates that may have been qualified to replace Staley, Sean McVay looked outside the organization and did not waste any time hiring Raheem Morris as his new defensive coordinator.
One of those internal candidates who may have felt he was passed up for the job was assistant head coach and linebackers coach Joe Barry, who has been on McVay’s staff all four years he has been in L.A.
It appears that tenure has come to an end though as Tom Pelissero of NFL Network is reporting that he will be joining Staley with the Chargers as their passing game coordinator and linebackers coach:
New #Chargers coach Brandon Staley is bringing along at least one assistant from the #Rams — Joe Barry is expected to join Staley as defensive passing game coordinator and linebackers coach, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 21, 2021
While this may seem like a lateral move, Barry will likely have more responsibilities with the Chargers since Staley will not only being calling defensive plays but will also have head coaching duties.
This marks a return to the Chargers for Barry, who served as their linebackers coach from 2011-14 when they played in San Diego.
The Rams now have to find a new linebackers coach to replace him, although it is possible that Morris will bring in some of his own coaches from the Atlanta Falcons, where he finished out the 2020 season as interim head coach.
