The Los Angeles Rams landed perhaps the biggest diamond in the rough of the 2025 NFL free agency period when they signed linebacker Nate Landman on a cheap, one-year deal.
Landman immediately blossomed into the Rams’ best inside linebacker and took over the starting role in Week 1. He then tallied 44 solo tackles, forced four fumbles, recovered two and registered three quarterback hits in 10 games before the Rams signed Landman to a three-year, $22.5 million contract extension. Landman added five more solo tackles in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers one day after the earned his new deal.
Neither head coach Sean McVay nor general manager Les Snead took credit for deciding to bring Landman in this offseason.
McVay credited Rams assistant general manager John McKay as the one who identified Landman this offseason. And he has a connection—McKay is the son of Atlanta Falcons CEO Rich McKay, whose team signed Landman as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado in 2022. Landman played three seasons in Atlanta before joining L.A. this offseason.
McKay might get the credit, but the defensive coordinator, Chris Shula, helped bring Landman up to speed quickly on the defense and helped turn him into a star for the Rams. Landman, too, proved almost instantly to be a good fit. And now, the two sides are locked together for the next three seasons.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Why did the Rams sign Nate Landman? Thank this man.
Reporting by Tyler Greenawalt, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
