A few head coaching jobs have already been filled this winter, but that doesn’t mean the Los Angeles Rams are safe from losing some of their top coordinators.
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula and passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase are been discussed a lot as the Rams head to the NFC title game this week, and Scheelhaase is reportedly a top finalist for the Cleveland Browns’ job.
Meanwhile, one NFL insider believes Shula is a top contender for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach job. CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala told 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh that a coach told her Shula “is the leader in the clubhouse” to become the Steelers’ next head coach.
“He thinks Chris Shula is the best fit for the Steelers,” she added.
Shula aligns with what Kinkhabwala sees as a commonality among the past two Steelers head coaches — Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher. Both were defensive-minded coaches who crafted a tough and more rugged team. Kinkhabwala said she thinks this is intentional and could signal the Steelers’ approach to the team’s next hiring.
That’s where Shula comes into play. He’s coached defenses throughout his career, including the past two seasons as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. Shula has also coached under Rams head coach Sean McVay since 2017, which gives him a lot of experience within a winning organization.
The Steelers virtually interviewed Shula (and Scheelhaase) on Jan. 19, but can’t talk again after the conference championship weekend on Jan. 26. And if the Rams make the Super Bowl, Shula can’t talk to the Steelers (or other teams) between Feb. 2 and Feb. 8. Once the Super Bowl ends, all bets are off.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL insider says Chris Shula is ‘the leader’ for Steelers HC job
Reporting by Tyler Greenawalt, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
