Sean McVay Reflects About Chris Shula’s Development

The hire paid off with Shula reinventing defensive football with hybrid players and a fluctuating scheme.

“There's a lot of love and experience together going back to even playing ball with him in college," stated McVay. "I think there are a lot of consistencies that we can relate to in terms of coming from football families and understanding this space. It's really all those things that I just talked about. He checks all those boxes. I think what's really cool is he's had a chance to coach on all three levels. He and I are so connected in regard to how we see the game and how we believe the game should be played, from an offensive, a defensive and really just a holistic perspective."

"That rapport that I have with him and guys like [Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator] Aubrey and [Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator] Giff Smith and our defensive staff as a whole, but it was really just the connection. When I opened up the competition, he earned the job. He did a great job with his interview. He has done a great job, I think, of really being able to collaborate with his coaching staff. Chris will be the first to tell you, ‘This is a collective effort.’ You hear the headsets on game day and what a phenomenal job he and our defensive coaches do of collaborating to try to be able to put our guys in good positions throughout the game and having a feel for all what's needed. ‘How do we want to play that? What's their approach?’ He's a stud."

"I'm really proud of him. I don't want to even say proud because it's not like I have anything to do with it. I'm just really happy and I'm not at all surprised and there's a lot of love for him. I think the players feel that and the coaches that he works with. He's doing a great job. It's a big reason why we've had a lot of cool things go on through 11 games so far.”