1,000 Oaks, California – Chris Shula has been promoted to defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams.
Shula, 37, takes over as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after Raheem Morris was hired.
Shula, who has 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 teaching 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 ninth most in the NFL.
Prior to joining the Rams, the Miami (Ohio) product first broke into the NFL coaching ranks as a defensive quality control coach for the San Diego Chargers in 2015 and 2016.
