Sean McVay speaks on Why Rams promote Chris Shula as the new DC

Sean McVay speaks on Why Rams promote Chris Shula as the new DC

Chris Shula has been promoted to defensive coordinator by the Los Angeles Rams.

Shula, 37, takes over as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after Raheem Morris was hired.

Shula, who was most recently finished with his seventh season as a member of the Rams coaching staff and his ninth

season as a coach in the NFL overall, assumes the position of defensive coordinator following his 2023

appointment as linebackers coach and pass rush coordinator. With a team-high 145 total tackles this past season,

linebacker Ernest Jones broke James Laurinitis’ single-season franchise record. Jones had a career year.

In 2017, Shula joined Rams head coach Sean McVay’s staff as an assistant linebackers coach. He remained in that

position for two years before coaching L.A.’s outside linebackers in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, he went back to coaching

linebackers; however, in 2022, he became the defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator.

Under Shula’s direction, Jones emerged as a valuable rookie in 2021, leading the team in tackles with 58, one sack, two

interceptions, four pass breakups, and six quarterback pressures. Shula oversaw a Rams secondary in 2022 while

coaching the defensive backs; Los Angeles finished with 16 interceptions overall, tied for seventh most in the NFL.

The Miami (Ohio) native made his NFL coaching debut in 2015 and 2016 as a

defensive quality control coach for the San Diego Chargers, before coming to the Rams.

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