Rams Continues Defensive Overhaul With ‘Rising Star’ New Addition

According to ESPN reporter Pete Thamel, the Rams are hiring Robert Wright as a defensive assistant, adding a respected young voice with deep collegiate experience.

Wright spent the past two seasons as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Syracuse Orange, where he helped guide the program to a 10–3 record in his first year and a finish inside the top 20 of the final Associated Press Poll. His linebacking unit flourished, with Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax earning All-ACC honors, while freshman Antoine Deslauriers became a Freshman All-American and the first true freshman in program history to lead the team in tackles.

That said, the Orange defense underperformed in 2025, ranking 115th nationally in points allowed and 123rd in total defense, numbers that placed the unit near the bottom of the FBS despite stronger individual metrics like tackling grades.

Before Syracuse, Wright coordinated the defense at Buffalo Bulls in 2023. That unit ranked top-25 nationally in several categories, including:

• Passing defense: 18th
• Defensive touchdowns: 25th
• Third-down defense: 23rd

Buffalo also finished top-10 nationally in total defense during conference play, while defensive standouts Devin Grant and Max Michel led the MAC in interceptions and forced fumbles, respectively.

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A Coaching Pedigree Built Across the College Landscape

Wright’s climb has included developmental stops at Duke Blue Devils, Texas A&M Aggies, Iowa State Cyclones, and Illinois Fighting Illini after beginning his career at his alma mater, the Miami Hurricanes.

At Duke in 2022, he helped engineer a 9–4 season and Military Bowl victory while the Blue Devils ranked fifth in the ACC in scoring defense (22.1 points per game), ninth nationally in takeaways (26), and 22nd in sacks.

During his graduate assistant tenure at Texas A&M, the Aggies posted a 17–6 record across two seasons and finished ninth nationally in total defense in 2020, allowing just 317.3 yards per game. Their rushing defense ranked second nationally at 92.0 yards allowed per game. Seven defenders from those units were eventually drafted into the NFL.

Wright’s trajectory earned national recognition when the American Football Coaches Association named him to its prestigious 35-under-35 class in 2024 — a signal that the league views him as a future coordinator candidate.

He will now work alongside returning assistant Jimmy Lake as part of the Rams’ defensive brain trust, with uncertainty still looming about the long-term future of Chris Shula. After multiple interviews for open defensive coordinator positions, Rams assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant is now set to return to the staff, with all DC positons now filled

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Secondary Help Also on the Way

The Rams’ defensive refresh didn’t not stop there.

Per CBS Sports insider Matt Zenitz, Los Angeles is also expected to hire Michael Hunter as defensive backs coach.

“The #Rams are expected to hire Tennessee’s Michael Hunter as a defensive backs coach,” Zenitz reported.

Hunter arrives from the Tennessee Volunteers after developing defensive backs at both Tennessee and the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he helped mold standouts like Davison Igbinosun into a First Team All-Big Ten selection and projected NFL draft pick.

Unlike Wright, Hunter also brings direct NFL playing experience, appearing in six regular-season games with the New York Giants from 2016 to 2017.

A Philosophical Shift More Than a Reset

Taken individually, none of these moves qualifies as a headline-grabber. Collectively, they paint a clearer picture of McVay’s long-term vision: blending experienced NFL voices with ascending collegiate developers who specialize in teaching and adaptability.

That balance has long been a hallmark of McVay’s program-building strategy. Rather than chasing established coordinators, the Rams are investing in coaches with strong teaching backgrounds, diverse schematic exposure, and reputations for player development — particularly on defense, where Los Angeles faced consistency issues in 2025.

The result is less a dramatic overhaul and more a recalibration designed to sustain competitiveness while quietly preparing the next generation of coaching leadership inside the building.

In typical McVay fashion, the Rams are betting that identifying tomorrow’s stars today will keep their championship window open longer than expected.