Chris Shula

Last updated

Chris Shula
Los Angeles Rams
Title Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born (1986-02-05) February 5, 1986 (age 40)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
College Miami (OH) (2004–2008)
NFL draft 2009: undrafted
Position Linebacker
Career history
  • Ball State (2010)
    Assistant linebackers coach
  • Indiana (2011–2013)
    Graduate assistant
  • John Carroll (2014)
    Defensive coordinator
  • San Diego Chargers (20152016)
    Defensive quality control coach
  • Los Angeles Rams (20172018)
    Assistant linebackers coach
  • Los Angeles Rams (20192020)
    Outside linebackers coach
  • Los Angeles Rams (2021)
    Linebackers coach
  • Los Angeles Rams (2022)
    Pass game coordinator & defensive backs coach
  • Los Angeles Rams (2023)
    Pass rush coordinator & linebackers coach
  • Los Angeles Rams (2024–present)
    Defensive coordinator
Awards and highlights
Coaching profile  at Pro Football Reference

Chris Shula (born February 5, 1986) is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who is the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami (OH) from 2004 to 2008.

Contents

Shula was born in Miami, Florida. His father, Dave, was a football coach, and the family lived in Florida, Texas, and Ohio. Shula is also a grandson of Don Shula and a nephew of Mike Shula. He attended high school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After graduation from high school in 2004, Shula returned to Ohio and enrolled at Miami University and played linebacker for the RedHawks, starting for two seasons.

From 2010 to 2013, Shula was a graduate assistant coach at Ball State University and Indiana University Bloomington where Kevin Wilson was head coach. In 2014, he landed his first full time assistant job as the defensive coordinator at the John Carroll University. After leading John Carroll to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals in 2014, Shula moved defensive quality control coach of the NFL's San Diego Chargers, where he worked under Mike McCoy.

Shula accepted the job as assistant linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, were he worked under his former college teammate, Sean McVay. Shula helped led the team to two Super Bowl appearances, including berths in seven NFL playoffs.

Early life

Shula was born on February 5, 1986, in Miami, Florida. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Playing career

Shula played linebacker for the Miami RedHawks [1] from 2004 until 2008, where he was teammates with Sean McVay. [2]

Coaching career

Ball State

In 2010, Shula was hired as the assistant linebackers coach at Ball State University. [3]

Indiana

In 2011, Shula joined Indiana University as a graduate assistant.

John Carroll

In 2014, Shula was hired as the defensive coordinator at John Carroll University. [4]

San Diego Chargers

In 2015, Shula was hired by the San Diego Chargers as a defensive quality control coach under head coach Mike McCoy. [5]

Los Angeles Rams

In 2017, Shula was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as their assistant linebackers coach under head coach Sean McVay. [6] In 2019, Shula was promoted to outside linebackers coach.

On February 23, 2021, Shula was promoted to linebackers coach. [7] That year, the Rams became Super Bowl champions when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. [8] In 2022, Shula was promoted to pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach. In 2023, Shula was promoted to pass rush coordinator and linebackers coach.

On February 2, 2024, Shula was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Rams, replacing Raheem Morris, following his departure to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. [9]

Personal life

Chris is the son of former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Dave Shula. He is also the grandson of the late Hall of Fame coach Don Shula. [10] [11] [12] Shula's uncle, Mike, was formerly head coach at Alabama and worked as an offensive coach for several NFL teams, most recently serving as the offensive coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks. [13]

References

  1. "Chris Shula - Football". Miami University RedHawks. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  2. "Official Site of the Los Angeles Rams". www.therams.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  3. Kirschenbaum, Alex (May 31, 2024). "Rams News: Chris Shula Reacts to First Day of OTAs for LA". SI.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  4. Warsinskey, Tim (November 13, 2014). "Chris Shula extends Don Shula's legacy at John Carroll with No. 2-ranked defense (video, slideshow)". cleveland. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  5. Warsinskey, Tim (February 10, 2015). "San Diego Chargers hire Chris Shula away from John Carroll University (photos, videos)". cleveland. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  6. Webb, Josh (February 8, 2017). "LA Rams Round Out 2017 Coaching Staff". Turf Show Times. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  7. Jackson, Stu (February 23, 2021). "Rams finalize 2021 coaching staff". TheRams.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  8. "Super Bowl LVI - Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals - February 13th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  9. Jackson, Stu (February 2, 2024). "Rams promote Chris Shula to defensive coordinator". therams.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  10. Williams, Eric D. (October 31, 2020). "Miami trip chance to honor family legacy for Rams assistant Chris Shula". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  11. Gehlken, Michael (February 2, 2019). "Rams assistant coach Chris Shula carries on family name". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  12. Habib, Hal (January 31, 2019). "Super Bowl 53: Don Shula's legacy grows as grandson helps coach Los Angeles Rams". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  13. "Gamecocks hire Mike Shula as offensive analyst". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 20, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.

Further reading