The NFL is all the time trying to find the subsequent nice head coach, and each season creates a brand new group of coordinators who start showing on shortlists throughout the league. For the Los Angeles Rams, one identify quietly constructing that momentum is Chris Shula.
Shula’s rise has been regular somewhat than flashy. A longtime assistant beneath Sean McVay, he climbed by way of a number of roles earlier than changing into defensive coordinator and serving to oversee a Rams protection that usually exceeded expectations. That alone makes him an intriguing candidate at any time when head teaching openings emerge.
However as with every coordinator making the soar, the résumé has arguments on each side.
1) The Sean McVay Teaching Tree
Whether or not truthful or not, affiliation issues in NFL hiring cycles.
Being related to Sean McVay instantly locations coaches beneath a brighter highlight due to the success that adopted his teaching tree. Groups proceed to chase variations of the Rams’ tradition: sturdy communication, adaptability, participant relationships, and organizational alignment.
Shula has spent years inside that surroundings studying not solely scheme, but additionally how McVay buildings conferences, delegates tasks, and manages personalities. Groups trying to find tradition builders could view Shula as somebody ready past merely calling defensive performs.
Whereas offensive minds usually obtain the headlines, defensive coaches with publicity to elite offensive environments can typically arrive extra full as CEO-style head coaches.
2) Excelling with an Cheap Protection in 2023 and 2024
One of many strongest factors in Shula’s favor is what the Rams achieved with out overwhelming monetary funding on protection.
In the course of the transition away from costly veteran-heavy rosters, Los Angeles relied closely on rookies, late-round picks, and creating contributors. Relatively than collapsing throughout that reset, the protection remained aggressive and helped hold the Rams in playoff rivalry.
Many head teaching candidates inherit imperfect rosters. Demonstrating a capability to maximise reasonably priced expertise is commonly extra worthwhile than coordinating an all-star unit.
If possession teams consider Shula can construct aggressive defenses with out requiring premium spending, that creates long-term attraction.
3) Growth of Younger Expertise
Maybe Shula’s most convincing argument is participant improvement.
The Rams have more and more leaned into youth, and defensive progress turned one of many group’s defining themes. Younger gamers have been requested to contribute instantly and, in lots of circumstances, improved quickly.
Head teaching interviews often focus much less on scheme and extra on infrastructure: How do you develop gamers? How do you create progress? How do you preserve requirements?
Shula’s latest work provides him examples to level towards. Simply have a look at the success of Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, Josiah Stewart, Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, Nate Landman, and cut price finds like Akhello Witherspoon.
4) In depth Positional Expertise
In contrast to some fast-rising coordinators who concentrate on one space, Shula’s background spans practically each degree of protection.
His expertise contains teaching:
Inside linebackersOutside linebackersPass rushersDefensive backs
That vary may matter considerably.
Head coaches hardly ever coach method day-after-day—they handle specialists. Having firsthand understanding of a number of place teams could assist Shula talk throughout a complete roster and keep away from changing into overly depending on one facet of the ball.
The Case AGAINST Chris Shula
1) Defensive Struggles in the course of the second half of the 2025 Season
Each coordinator experiences ups and downs, however decision-makers will study developments.
If evaluators consider the Rams protection misplaced momentum late in 2025, questions naturally observe. Did opponents regulate? Did manufacturing plateau? Have been in-game changes sturdy sufficient?
Honest or unfair, head teaching candidates are sometimes judged closely on how their models end seasons somewhat than how they begin them.
2) Reliance on Defensive Superstars for 2026
One other query evaluators could ask: How a lot of the protection’s success comes from system versus elite expertise?
Because the Rams proceed constructing round premier defensive gamers, skeptics may argue {that a} sturdy efficiency this 12 months may very well be extra associated to the expertise of gamers like Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett somewhat than elite teaching by Shula.
That doesn’t invalidate Shula’s work—however hiring committees might want proof that his teaching is transcendent in comparison with different candidates.
3) Current Historical past of McVay DCs changing into HCs
Historical past isn’t future, but it surely turns into a part of the dialog for different organizations…
Two latest examples stand out:
Brandon StaleyRaheem Morris
Each ultimately misplaced their head teaching jobs.
That doesn’t imply Shula would observe the identical path, however possession teams could ask if a defensive coordinator inside McVay’s construction is straight correlated from the defensive coordinator or if that success is stemming from Sean McVay and Les Snead.
Will Chris Shula be a profitable Head Coach?
If he will get a job, how lengthy does he final…
Closes in 3 days • 12 whole votesView outcomes
No, won’t get hired1 12 months or less2 years3 years4 yearsYes, 5+ seasonsRec 0CommentsThin Stroke Remark Icon BubbleReplyRead 1 replies
