AC Carter

Rams Finalize 2024 Coaching Staff

The Rams were one of several teams forced to reconstruct their coaching staff this offseason. While it’s always a challenge to replace staff, the Rams aren’t doing it because they needed to fire anybody, they’re simply replacing coaches who moved on to bigger jobs. Head coach Sean McVay is doing what he’s done year after year, bringing in a new staff that is sure to flourish under his tutelage.

On offense, we were already aware of the hires of quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone to replace Zac Robinson, senior offensive assistant Jerry Schuplinski, and offensive assistant and pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase, though the “offensive assistant” part of that title is new information.

In addition, since the departed Robinson had held the title of pass-game coordinator, that moniker has transferred to tight ends coach Nick Caley. Lastly, with offensive assistants K.J. Black and Nick Jones following Robinson and former defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to Atlanta, Los Angeles has brought in former Jets quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese as a new offensive assistant. Calabrese takes a step back after spending three years in his first NFL position coaching job.

The defensive side of the ball is where the most change will commence, since Morris departed to become the next head coach of the Falcons. We have already reported on Giff Smith‘s replacement of Eric Henderson as defensive line coach and run game coordinator and the hiring of former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai as a senior defensive assistant, as well as the departure of assistant head coach Jimmy Lake, who left to become Morris’ defensive coordinator in Atlanta.

Los Angeles’ update informed us on some pending information for the rest of the defensive staff. First, we had heard that former Packers pass-game coordinator Greg Williams had interviewed for the Rams inside linebackers coaching job, and now we know that he has officially been hired for the role, replacing Chris Shula following his promotion to defensive coordinator. Formerly the secondary coach, Chris Beake‘s official title has been altered to safeties coach, and while assistant defensive line coach AC Carter interviewed for the position that went to Smith after Henderson’s exit, Carter will simply remain in his current role. Additionally, outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio, defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant, and defensive assistant Mike Harris have all been retained by Shula in their current roles.

Lastly, on special teams, the Rams hired Chili Davis as assistant special teams coach to replace Jeremy Springer, who departed to become special teams coordinator in New England. Davis will take his first NFL job after coaching for the last 11 years in various college gigs. Most recently, he served as special teams coordinator at Florida A&M in 2022 before going to Manhattan to serve as Kansas State’s special teams quality control coach. Also, on the coaching staff, John Streicher has been brought on board to serve as game management coordinator. Streicher spent the last six seasons in Tennessee, most recently serving as the Titans director of football administration.

There you have it: the 2024 coaching staff for the Rams. McVay is certainly used to shuffling his staff at this point in his career in Los Angeles. He was able to rebound from a rough 2022 season to get back to the playoffs, and with this new staff, he’ll try to get back to the pinnacle of the sport after winning it all in 2021.

Rams Promote Chris Shula To DC

The Rams are turning to their current coaching staff to fill the void left by former defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams have promoted pass rush coordinator and linebackers coach Chris Shula to defensive coordinator. The Rams have since announced the promotion.

With Morris being named as the Falcons new head coach, the Rams had a major hole on their coaching staff. Sean McVay considered a number of outside candidates for the job, including former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera. McVay also considered in-house candidates; besides Shula, defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant was also expected to get an interview for the position.

Ultimately, the Rams opted for Shula as their new defensive coordinator. The grandson of Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, Chris Shula has been climbing the NFL coaching ranks for close to a decade. He spent the past seven seasons with the Rams organization, working his way up from assistant LBs coach to the full-time job. He earned the added responsibility of pass game coordinator in 2022, and he took on the title of pass rush coordinator in 2023.

Shula has earned a positive reputation during his seven seasons with the Rams, and Schefter notes that the Dolphins tried to get the coach in for a coordinator interview. Ultimately, the Rams wouldn’t let the 37-year-old out of the building. According to Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager, Shula was “incredibly impressive” during his interview for the Rams job, and the decision is expected to be “celebrated” by the current staff.

The Rams are also reportedly eyeing a current staff member for another vacancy. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Rams interviewed assistant defensive line coach AC Carter for the full-time job. Carter has had a quick rise, as he only entered the NFL coaching ranks in 2022 when he served as the Broncos defensive quality control coach. In Los Angeles, he was credited with helping guide rookie Kobie Turner to a team-leading nine sacks this past season.