Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is considered one of the top candidates to become an NFL head coach, with several teams expected to make changes in the coming days and weeks.
Shula has multiple Greater Cincinnati connections. He played linebacker for the Miami University RedHawks from 2004 to 2008, and graduated from MU.
Shula’s father, Dave, was the Cincinnati Bengals’ head coach from 1992 to 1996.
What to know about 39-year-old Chris Shula:
Shula was Sean McVay’s Miami RedHawks teammate.
McVay, a receiver for the Miami University RedHawks from 2004 to 2007, has been the Los Angeles Rams’ head coach since 2017.
McVay hired Shula, his teammate for three seasons at MU, as the Rams’ assistant linebackers coach in 2017.
Shula has been on McVay’s Rams coaching staff ever since, holding the roles of outside LBs coach (2019-2020), LBs coach (2021), pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach (2022), and pass rush coordinator/linebackers coach (2023). He’s in his second season as defensive coordinator.
Shula’s grandfather, Don, is the winningest head coach in NFL history.
Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins won head-to-head meetings with Dave Shula’s Bengals in Oct. 1994 and Oct. 1995.
Before coaching in the NFL, Chris Shula coached in college at Ball State (assistant LBs), Indiana (grad assistant) and John Carroll (defensive coordinator), where his legendary grandfather played from 1948 to 1950.
Shula’s uncle, Mike, is a former NFL assistant and ex-Alabama Crimson Tide head coach.
Mike is currently South Carolina’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Dave’s younger brother, Mike coached Alabama from 2003 to 2006.
Mike has coached in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is Chris Shula? Ex-Miami RedHawks LB’s dad, Dave, coached Bengals
Reporting by Dave Clark, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
