Rams Rumors: LB Coach Chris Shula to Be Promoted to DC: Grandson of NFL Legend Don

The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly "planning to promote pass rush coordinator and linebackers coach Chris Shula to be their defensive coordinator," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Shula, the grandson of legendary former head coach Don Shula, reportedly interviewed with the Miami Dolphins earlier on Thursday for their defensive coordinator vacancy, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Shula, 37, has been with the Rams since 2017, starting as an assistant linebackers coach before being promoted to outside linebackers coach (2019-20), linebackers coach (2021), passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach (2022) and pass-rush coordinator and linebackers coach this past season.

Suffice to say, Shula has worked with a number of positions on the defensive side of the ball and held a number of roles in his time with Los Angeles, bringing a wide variety of positional perspectives to the defensive coordinator role.

Prior to the Rams he spent two seasons with the San Diego Chargers (2015-16) as a defensive quality control coach.

He'll be replacing Raheem Morris, who spent the last three years as defensive coordinator before taking over as the Atlanta Falcons' head coach this offseason. Under Morris, the Rams finished 19th in points allowed and 20th in yardage this past season.

The Rams had an impressive run to the postseason this year, winning seven of their last eight games to wrap up a Wild Card berth. They gave the Detroit Lions a run for their money in the first round of the playoffs but fell just short, 24-23.

Shula's grandfather was a Hall of Famer and two-time champion who led the Baltimore Colts (1963-69) and Miami Dolphins (1970-95) to a combined 328-156-6 record, the most wins in NFL history. He won titles with the Dolphins in both the 1972 and 1973 seasons, and his 1972 team remains the only in NFL history to finish the season undefeated.

Quite the legacy to live up to, though Chris Shula is quickly ascending up the coaching ranks.