Rams DC Chris Shula must prove to NFL teams that he is head coach worthy in 2026

The ascension of Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula seemed unstoppable in his first season. But the defense seemed to show fatigue, and perhaps grew a bit stale, as Los Angeles failed to win a Super Bowl in 2025. Now, a bit tarnished but fiercely determined, Shula must gird his loins for a brutal 2026 schedule.

Shula is an ideal yin to head coach Sean McVay's yang. He is less fiery, less demonstrative, but every bit the cerebral assassin of this talented defense. It was thanks to Shula's guidance that the defense transformed from a passive, preventive defense to one that combined blitzes, stunts, and confusing personnel packages to keep the offense off balance.

And he did it all on a shoestring budget.

If you get what you pay for, LA fans have reasons to raise defensive expectations. Shula is no longer coaching the least expensive defense in the NFL. While teams have to pare their rosters to the 53-man limits for the 2026 NFL season, OTC.com's records suggest the team has nearly doubled its defensive spending from 2025 to 2026. With extensions due for multiple defensive stars, that could increase.

Is this the year Chris Shula's defense dominates the NFL?

In 2024, LA's defense allowed 22.2 points per game for a 17th-place ranking. Last season, the defense improved to 20.4 points per game, good enough to climb to a 10th-place ranking. But it was the Seattle Seahawks' top-scoring defense that allowed just 17.2 points per game that seemed to push Shula and company out of the spotlight.

The Horns certainly seemed to improve their run defense. After allowing 130.9 rushing yards per game, Los Angeles improved drastically to allow just 110.8 rushing yards per game. While some fans may scoff at the performance, LA faced a Top 10 running back six times.

The same effort to get stingy against the run is in force to get stingier against the pass in 2026. Shula's defense just upgraded, trading for CB Trent McDuffie while signing his Kansas City Chiefs teammate, CB Jaylen Watson. In 2025, KC allowed just 195.8 passing yards per game, just 10 passing touchdowns for the season, while generating 10 interceptions.

In contrast, LA allowed 218.7 yards per game, surrendered 28 passing touchdowns, and generated 16 interceptions.

The pieces are in place for a significant upgrade. Now that Shula has proven cornerbacks, he can reach into his defensive bag of tricks to keep offenses baffled. And now that he finally has a defense that is more aligned with his design, and not inherited from his predecessor, he should have a much better command all season long.

What will it take for Shula's name to appear on the NFL head coaching candidate short list at season's end? Well, a top 10 defensive performance that finishes as strong as it starts the season will certainly go a long way in that direction. Shula cannot afford another defensive crisis in 2026. Nor should fans expect one.

LA's defense is loaded to compete this season. And as always, thanks so much for taking the time to read.

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