Will Wade Phillips return as LA Rams defensive coordinator?

LA Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips may not return next season

The Los Angeles Rams have found success in the NFL by employing one of the oldest tricks in the book. Simply hiring a head coach whose forte is offense (Sean McVay), and then turning over the keys to the defense to a veteran coach (Wade Phillips).  And to nobody’s surprise, success has followed the Rams since constructing their coaching tandem.  Building a successful coaching staff certainly has its share of challenges. Sometimes the greater challenge is keeping that well balanced coaching staff intact after the team is successful.

Phillips is a seasoned veteran of the NFL, and has served as head coach as well as defensive coordinator for some very successful teams. There is a consensus among some pundits that Phillips contract expiring at the end of this season marks the end of the Phillps-McVay duo for the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams less the expected 9-7 record was more than just a pourous offensive line.  The team’s defense shared some of the responsibility as well, encouraging even NFL.com authors Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport to suggest the Rams may be parting  ways with Phillips this offseason.  This is just one year after Phillips helped the Rams to compete in SuperBowl 53.

Of course, the Rams would be a marquis destination for the NFL’s finest defensive strategists.  Boasting the likes of All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald and shutdown cornerback Jalen Ramsey, it would be a very soft sales pitch to encourage an ambitious coach to sign on the dotted line.

Speculation has already popped some names to the surface.  Rams linebackers coach Joe Barry has been mentioned as a possible replacement should the Rams ask Phillips to step down. If the Dallas Cowboys dismiss their coaching staff, Rod Marinelli would be quickly added to this list as well. Another name to keep a close eye on is Kris Richard. He was responsible for generating the “Legion of Boom” in the Seattle Seahawks defensive secondary.

This is a situation worth monitoring . You can bet we’ll bring you the latest updates as new developments occur.

Added 6 January 2020

With the news of the Dallas Cowboys hiring Mike McCarthy, that adds a bit of intrigue to this situation. He will be recruiting defensive coaches.  Will he be reaching out to Rams DC Wade Phillips?

Wade Phillips confirmed that he will not be back as the LA Rams defensive coordinator for 2020 via his twitter account on January 6, 2020. The timing of this announcement seems to align curiously after the Dallas Cowboys announced hiring former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.  Look for Phillips’ name to be linked almost immediately to the Cowboys in the days ahead.