The Los Angeles Rams are tied atop the NFC West at 4-2, and while the offense led by Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay is a huge reason why, so too is their defense.
After future NFL Hall of Famer Aaron Donald retired, the Rams' defense took a major step back. Los Angeles saw Donald retire after the 2023 season, and in 2024, the Rams also brought in Chris Shula to be the new defensive coordinator.
Year one in 2024 was a little rocky, but there was significant progress made, and the Rams looked to be one of the ascending defensive units in the NFL. And now, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Rams' DC is a name to watch for a head coaching gig next season.
Rams' Chris Shula named as a top head coach candidate for 2026
Russini identified a few head coaching candidates in the wake of the Tennessee Titans' firing of Brian Callahan. Other than the top options for the Titans' job, Russini identified a few other names who could earn jobs this offseason. "Here are some other names I'll be keeping my eye on if and when other openings arise: ... Rams DC Chris Shula."
The Rams' defense under Shula has been a strong unit the last two years. While losing a player like Donald would set any defense back, just one year later, the Rams are once again a top unit.
Thanks to multiple key additions, the Rams' defense is ranked eighth in yards allowed and third in points allowed. During Shula's first year, the Rams were ranked 26th in yards and 17th in points allowed.
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It took just one year, and Shula has the Rams' defense as a top unit in the NFL once again. Those ranks are the highest the Rams defense has been since their 2020 season, when the defense was ranked first in both points and yards allowed.
A huge reason why the defense has performed so well, other than Shula's influence, is thanks to Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, Poona Ford, and Kobie Turner. It's a revamped defensive line that's managed to more than get over the loss of Donald a few seasons ago.
Russini named Shula as one of the top candidates to keep an eye on, and with how great his defense has looked this season, it's hardly a surprise he's garnering head coaching buzz despite this being his second year as a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
While it may still be too early for him to take on a head coaching job, it's likely that, if the defense continues to perform this well, Shula will be strongly considered for head coaching gigs around the NFL.
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