With preparation for the team’s divisional round game reaching its conclusion, numerous Rams staffers will spend Friday conducting initial interviews for head coaching positions. That features Chris Shula.
Los Angeles’ defensive coordinator is amongst the preferred candidates on the coaching market this yr. All but one team with a HC emptiness has submitted an interview request in his case, and Shula figures to be busy over the approaching days. He’ll speak with the Ravens, Steelers and Dolphins today, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports.
All three of those teams have solid a large net by way of candidates, however it comes as little surprise Shula is a goal in each case. The 39-year-old has drawn praise for his work leading the Rams’ defense over the past two years. Prior to replacing Raheem Morris because the team’s DC, Shula held numerous roles in Los Angeles. He also has one yr of defensive coordinator experience at the school level (albeit with Division-III program John Carroll).
The grandson of Don Shula, Chris is one in every of many staffers with a defensive background who has drawn considerable interest on this yr’s cycle. That, coupled along with his age, would definitely make him a logical fit with Pittsburgh particularly. The Steelers opted for a first-time head coach of their 30s with experience on defense for every of their last three HC hires (Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin). Shula is among the many top options available who fit that description.
Pittsburgh could still take the route of an offensive coach, with the team having shown interest in candidates from that side of the ball as well. The identical can also be true of Baltimore; the team’s seek for a John Harbaugh alternative features a big selection of targets. Several ex-head coaches have interviewed already, but less experienced staffers have received a glance as well. Shula is little question one in every of the important candidates on the latter front for Baltimore and other teams.
Don Shula spent 26 years of his illustrious head coaching profession in Miami, so Chris would face the challenge of filling very large shoes within the event he were to tackle HC duties there. The Dolphins have a long-running streak of hiring first-time coaches, and tapping one with a defensive background would mark a notable departure from the Mike McDaniel era. With longtime Packers exec Jon-Eric Sullivan now in place as general manager, many have pointed to Jeff Hafley as a possible Dolphins hire. Miami will after all speak with other candidates, nevertheless.
Per NFL rules, each of those interviews have to be conducted remotely. The primary round of meetings for staffers in Shula’s position (those set to take part in this weekend’s games) have to be accomplished before the tip of the divisional round. As such, a full list of his potential destinations will soon emerge.