Why Mike LaFleur is the right OC hire for the LA Rams in 2023

The LA Rams have a lot of coaching vacancies to address. But the first and foremost additions to the team coaching staff are the coordinators. In 2020, the LA Rams had to hire three new coordinators for the team’s coaching staff. In 2023, the LA Rams have now hired one, have one vacancy at the Special Teams Coordinator, and may lose their Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris to the wave of new NFL Head Coach hires that are occurring right now.

Morris is currently in the running for two head coaching positions: The Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts.

He is not the only member of the Rams coaching staff who is exploring opportunities for promotion outside of the LA Rams. Both TE/RB coach Thomas Brown and QB coach/Passing game coordinator Zac Robinson are making the rounds as candidates for offensive coordinator for a number of teams.  Ah yes, offensive coordinator. This brings me to the LA Rams vacancy.

No Reich? No problem

Many had linked the name Frank Reich to the position, but it was clear that Reich had his sights set on head coach roles for now. His search ended when the Carolina Panthers hired Frank Reich to be their new head coach. With Reich now officially out of the running, the LA Rams had nothing more to gain by keeping their role open, and have now made their own Offensive Coordinator hire decision.

As my sources had indicated, the LA Rams’ new OC will indeed be Mike LaFleur. The Rams rumors were reported early on January 27, 2023, by NFL insider Ian Rapoport:

So why is this a good hire? Let’s talk through some of those reasons and see if you agree that this is a good pickup: