Chris Shula is the fourth defensive coordinator that the Los Angeles Rams have had in the last five years, and he was on the staff under the three before him.
Two of those defense coordinators that Shula was under have gone on to be head coaches and he looks to continue that trend.
Shula also recognizes the great coaching that has come before him and wants to implement their philosophy into what he does.
"I want to thank Wade Phillips, Brandon Staley, and Raheem Morris, three defensive coordinators that I worked under here with the Rams," Shula said. "Each of you guys did it in your own way and I learned so much from working under you and watching how you guys went about your daily process. And your relationship with the players and coaches, I'm going to implement that going forward."
Wade Phillips was a part of eight different NFL teams before coming to the Rams, six of which he served as a head coach. Phillips' record as the team's defensive coordinator was 33-15, making him one of the most successful defensive coordinators in Rams history.
As for Staley and Morris, they both became head coaches after serving as the defensive coordinator for the Rams and each played integral roles in the team's success. Morris, in fact, helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl win in 2021.
Shula has had some great coaching come before him, and he knows it.
This season, he will be looking to help the team make the playoffs again, and hopefully, this time, make it back to the big game.
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