NFL Rumors: Dolphins Eye Chris Shula for DC Job; Grandson of NFL Legend Don Shula

For the first time since 2002, a Shula could be in line to join he Miami Dolphins' coaching staff.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Dolphins are set to interview Los Angeles Rams pass-rush coordinator and linebackers coach Chris Shula for their vacant defensive coordinator position Thursday.

Chris is the grandson of legendary Dolphins head coach Don Shula, who coached the team from 1970 to 1995, winning two Super Bowls and registering an NFL-record 328 career regular-season coaching wins and 347 wins between the regular season and playoffs.

Mike Shula, who is Chris' uncle and a senior offensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills, was the last Shula to coach in Miami, as he was the Dolphins' quarterbacks coach from 2000 to 2002.

The 37-year-old Chris Shula is also the son of Dave Shula, who was on the Dolphins' coaching staff from 1982 to 1988, was the Cincinnati Bengals head coach from 1992 to 1996 and is currently a wide receivers coach at his alma mater Dartmouth,

Chris had stints as an assistant coach collegiately at Ball State, Indiana and John Carroll before becoming the then-San Diego Chargers' defensive quality control coach in 2015.

When Sean McVay became the Rams' head coach in 2017, he hired Shula as his assistant linebackers coach. Shula then progressed to outside linebackers coach, linebackers coach, pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach before finally becoming pass-rush coordinator and linebackers coach this season.

Shula's only defensive coordinator stint was his one season at John Carroll in 2014, but given his experience in L.A., including winning a Super Bowl at the conclusion of the 2021 season, he could be ready for a promotion.

The Dolphins lost defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after just one season, as he decided to take the Philadelphia Eagles' DC job.

Miami went 11-6 this season and it reached the playoffs for a second consecutive year, but it blew a sizable lead in the AFC East, dropping the division to the Bills in the final week of the regular season.

The Dolphins also fell 26-7 to the eventual AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

While the Dolphins had the No. 2 scoring offense in the NFL this season with 29.2 points per game, they allowed 23.0 points per game defensively, which ranked 22nd.

Dolphins fans would likely welcome Shula with open arms due to his family's rich history with the franchise, and it could also prove to be a great hire aside from his name, as he helped coach a Rams defense that ranked first in the NFL in both total defense and points allowed a few short years ago.