For 1st time in years, NFL rumors have not linked Rams coaches to new teams

Here we are, another NFL season fading in the rearview mirror for the LA Rams and Rams fans. As is the custom, the first Monday after the end of the NFL regular season is the start of the NFL coaching carousel, named for the way NFL teams fire coaches and coordinators from their staff, and seek to hire new coaches and coordinators, oftentimes from the pool of coaches and coordinators who were fired at the end of last season or in the midst of the current NFL season. It's a chaotic time for the NFL

Just as the day after Thanksgiving is referred to in retail as Black Friday, the day after the end of the NFL regular season is referred to as Black Monday. Right now, multiple NFL teams have are in the process of firing coaches, and are preparing to begin the process to hire coaches to their staff.

There may even be some NFL general manager positions opening up and filled in the days ahead.

So which coaches are at risk?

That is a pretty large number of coaches and NFL teams. But not to worry. 2025 has a differing aura for the LA Rams and for Rams fans.

Don't look for wholesale hirings from the Rams coaching staff

It has been an annual pilgrimage for NFL teams that had disappointing records to shop for new head coaches, coordinators, and positional coaches from the Rams coaching staff. It was no surprise for teams to hire a new head coach or general manage from the Rams football organization. And they, in turn, would persuade other staff to follow them to their new team and roles.

In 2024, the Rams lost DC Raheem Morris to the Atlanta Falcons to become their new head coach. He lured a bevy of coaches to follow him to the Falcons to fill critical roles on their coaching staff. But there is no rumored link from any coach-needy team to a Rams coordinator or positional coach right now. With any luck, that will remain the status as teams hire new coaches.

Of course, Monday morning is just starting on the West Coast, and there are many many coaching firings and hirings in store for NFL teams in the days and weeks ahead. But as of right now, the hottest NFL teams facing the likelihood of losing coaches to other teams are (in no particular order): The Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, and Kansas City Chiefs.

I, for one, would love nothing more than for the Rams coaching staff to remain intact heading into 2025.

Rams excellent coaches aren't 'ripe' for larger roles on other teams

When the Rams lost DC Brandon Staley to the Los Angeles Chargers after just one season on the coaching staff, he had produced an NFL top-ranked defense in his first year overseeing the group. When the Rams lost OC Kevin O'Connell to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, he had several years of working hand-in-hand with HC Sean McVay and was ready for a larger role.

Rams OC Mike LaFleur is finishing his second season with a rather underperforming offense. Rams DC Chris Shula is finishing his first season with an inconsistent defense. Rams ST Coordinator Chase Blackburn is finishing his second season with the group but is only recently generating consistently positive results.

Of course, the future is never easy to predict. Events can take a sudden twist. If a team hires a coach with ties to a member of the Rams coaching staff, that could lead to a defection. But as of right now, I cannot foresee the Rams taking losses from the coaching staff anywhere close to the numbers hired away by other teams in the past.

And I'm excited to say that this is a very good group of coaches.

As always, thanks for reading.

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