Sean McVay had never fired an assistant coach in-season until now.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Rams let go of special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn. His tenure ends after two-plus seasons with the team, this year being the worst of his time in L.A.
It’s the first time in McVay’s career that he’s let go of a coach during a season, showing just how fed up he must be of the Rams’ struggling special teams unit. Thursday’s game was the straw that broke the camel’s back but this move has been a long time coming.
Blackburn’s group cost the Rams a win over the Eagles in Week 3 when Joshua Karty had two field goals blocked, including the potential game-winner as time expired. Then on Thursday, the Seahawks returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown when the Rams were leading by 16 points.
Ethan Evans’ next punt was a shank that went nowhere, and the Seahawks scored a game-tying touchdown only a couple of plays later after starting with great field position.
It’s rare for a team as successful and dominant as the Rams to fire a coach this late into the season, but Los Angeles is on a path to potentially winning a Super Bowl and it couldn’t continue with Blackburn’s group weighing the team down so heavily.
With only two weeks left in the regular season, the Rams are now making a change that will hopefully keep them in the hunt for a championship.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Chase Blackburn’s firing is the first of its kind for Sean McVay
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
