Rams Playoff Run Delays Steelers Coaching Interviews

The Los Angeles Rams have become one of the NFL’s most intriguing storylines this postseason, and much of the buzz centers around their defensive coordinator, Chris Shula. On Sunday night, the Rams eked out a dramatic 20-17 overtime victory against the Chicago Bears, sending them to the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks and, in turn, putting several NFL coaching searches—including the Pittsburgh Steelers’—in a holding pattern. But who exactly is Chris Shula, and why has he suddenly become the hottest name on the coaching carousel?

For longtime football fans, the name Shula rings more than a few bells. Chris Shula is, in fact, the grandson of the legendary Don Shula, the late Pro Football Hall of Fame coach whose 328 regular-season wins and 347 total victories (regular season and playoffs) remain NFL records. Don Shula’s crowning achievement? Leading the Miami Dolphins to the only perfect season in league history in 1972—an undefeated regular season capped by a Super Bowl win. The Shula legacy is woven deep into the fabric of NFL history, and now, Chris is writing his own chapter.

Chris Shula’s coaching journey began back in 2010, when he served as assistant linebackers coach at Ball State. From there, he took on graduate assistant duties at Indiana (2011-2013), before stepping up as defensive coordinator at John Carroll in 2014. His NFL ascent started with the San Diego Chargers as a defensive quality control coach (2015-2016), and soon after, he joined the Los Angeles Rams’ staff in 2017—the same year head coach Sean McVay came aboard. Since then, Shula has climbed the ranks: outside linebackers coach (2019-2020), linebackers coach (2021), pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach (2022), pass rush coordinator and linebackers coach (2023), and finally, defensive coordinator in 2024. That’s a whirlwind tour of nearly every defensive coaching role imaginable.

“He’s one of the top coaching candidates on this year’s head coaching carousel,” notes USA TODAY. The numbers back it up. Under Shula’s guidance, the Rams defense has been a force, none more so than in Sunday’s playoff thriller. Facing rookie phenom Caleb Williams and the Bears, Shula’s unit held Chicago to just 17 points and forced three turnovers. The most jaw-dropping play of the night? Williams connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass that traveled an astonishing 51.2 air yards to tie the game at 17 in the final seconds—a moment that had fans and analysts alike shaking their heads in disbelief. But as The Athletic put it, “A play that Shula can hardly be blamed for. Just tip your cap to the opponent and play on.”

The Rams’ defense didn’t flinch. With the Bears threatening to enter field goal range in overtime, safety Kamren Curl picked off Williams, setting up the Rams for the game-winning field goal. The stadium erupted. “Los Angeles got the final and key stop,” The Athletic reported. That resilience under pressure is exactly what has made Shula such a coveted name for teams in need of a new head coach.

But here’s where things get complicated for teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL rules prohibit in-person interviews with coaching candidates whose teams are still alive in the playoffs. The Steelers, who have already conducted virtual interviews with Shula, must now wait at least another week before they can meet him face-to-face. The same holds true for Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, another hot candidate for the Pittsburgh job. If the Rams fall to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game on January 25, the Steelers can bring in Shula and Scheelhaase immediately. But if Los Angeles advances to the Super Bowl, interviews can only happen during the bye week between the conference championship and the big game—and official hires would have to wait until after February 9, the day after the Super Bowl.

That’s a logistical headache for the Steelers, who are juggling a list of nine known candidates. Some, like Jesse Minter, Anthony Weaver, Jeff Hafley, Brian Flores, Ejiro Evero, and Klay Kubiak, are free to interview in person right away, since their seasons have ended. In fact, in-person interviews with Mike McCarthy and Brian Flores are already scheduled. But Shula, widely viewed as the betting favorite for the job, remains out of reach for now. “It seems unlikely that Art Rooney II and Omar Khan will make a decision without first meeting with him in person,” Steelers Now observed.

Other teams are circling as well. Arizona, Baltimore, Miami, and Tennessee have all expressed interest in Shula, while Scheelhaase is on the radar for Baltimore, Cleveland, and Las Vegas. The competition is fierce, and the window to make a hire is shrinking. The Steelers, for instance, must have a new head coach in place to prepare for key offseason events like the Senior Bowl, which kicks off January 27. If the Rams keep winning, Pittsburgh could be forced to attend without a head coach or much of a coaching staff—an unusual predicament for a franchise of their stature.

There’s another wrinkle: NFL diversity policies require the Steelers to interview at least two minority candidates in person, and Brian Flores will satisfy one of those slots. But it’s clear the organization wants to give Shula a fair shot, which means patience is the name of the game. “This is the dance,” wrote The Athletic. “Navigating all the logistics while focusing on finding the right candidate that will shape the franchise, good or bad, for the next several years.”

Meanwhile, Chris Shula remains laser-focused on the task at hand: preparing the Rams defense for a showdown with the Seahawks and, potentially, a Super Bowl appearance. It’s a high-wire act—balancing the intensity of an NFL playoff run with the distractions and opportunities of a head coaching search. For Shula, it’s a chance to prove that his family’s legacy is alive and well, and that he’s ready to step out of his grandfather’s shadow and into a top job of his own.

As the NFL coaching carousel spins, all eyes are on Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. Will the Rams’ playoff success delay the Steelers’ decision long enough for another team to swoop in and snag Shula? Or will patience pay off for Pittsburgh, landing them the hottest young defensive mind in football? One thing’s for sure: Chris Shula’s next move is the talk of the league, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Rams’ playoff run continues, and so does the suspense surrounding the future of one of football’s most storied names.