January 17, 2026, 10:27 a.m. ET
of miami dolphins conducted an interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula said Friday.
Shula quickly became one of the top candidates for the vacant head coaching position leaguewide. he also baltimore ravens He accepted the head coaching job with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday and reportedly has offers from more teams. It seems almost inevitable that Shula will become a head coach sooner or later.
Shula has been on the Rams staff under head coach Sean McVay since 2017 and has had the opportunity to coach under three different defensive coordinators: Wade Phillips, Brandon Staley and Raheem Morris, all of whom have been head coaches in the league.
The last name will always be associated with the storied Miami Dolphins franchise, thanks to Chris’ grandfather, Don Shula, perhaps the greatest coach in NFL history. Don Shula was the head coach of the Dolphins from 1970 to 1995, leading the franchise to two Super Bowl championships, including a legendary perfect 17-0 season in 1972. His 347 career wins are an NFL record.
But Chris Shula hasn’t been given coaching opportunities just because of his name. Shula paid his way to the industry for 15 years at both the professional and university levels.
background
- current job: Defensive coordinator, Los Angeles Rams (2024-present)
- year:39
- hometown: Miami, Florida
- college:University of Miami (Ohio)
experience
- Defensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams (2024-present)
- Pass Rush Coordinator/Linebackers Coach, Los Angeles Rams (2023)
- Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Los Angeles Rams (2022)
- Linebackers Coach, Los Angeles Rams (2021)
- Outside Linebackers Coach, Los Angeles Rams (2019-2020)
- Assistant Linebackers Coach, Los Angeles Rams (2017-2018)
- San Diego Chargers, defensive quality control coach (2015-2016)
- Defensive Coordinator, John Carroll Blue Streaks (2014)
- Indiana Hoosiers Graduate Assistant (2011-2013)
- Assistant Linebackers Coach, Ball State Cardinals (2010)
fit with dolphins
The Dolphins are looking to completely change their culture, and that started with the hiring of new general manager John Eric Sullivan. The Dolphins’ cap situation will pose some roster challenges in 2026, but establishing a winning culture early will be key to the success of this change.
The goal of finding a new head coach is not only to have a figure, but also to have a commanding presence that can be a leader of men. To do that, they need a head coach who can command respect in the locker room from day one.
Shula’s time with the Rams was a time when the franchise flourished under coach McVay. The team had a winning record in eight of Shula’s nine seasons with the team. Shula coached the Rams in two Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals.
This season, Shula coached a defense that ranked 10th in points allowed and fifth in takeaways. His defense is mostly made up of mid-to-late round picks and some undrafted free agents that the Rams have developed into quality starters with Shula’s help. For example, outside linebacker and 2023 third-round pick Byron Young had 12 sacks in 2025.
Shula’s ability to get the most out of young players is what the Dolphins should be looking for in their new head coach. Miami’s defense is loaded with young and relatively unproven talent, including the franchise’s two recent first-round picks in edge rusher Chops Robinson and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant.
They said so…
“I couldn’t think of anyone who was better on the field, who was better off the field, who was smarter, who was my right-hand man in coaching. That goes back to when I was a young coach. I got as much out of him as he got out of me.” – Former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris (Via TheRams.com)
conclusion
Hiring Shura was a big decision and fits the mold of the direction this series is going. The Dolphins’ general manager and head coaching changes were made in hopes of establishing a winning culture for a franchise that hasn’t won in the playoffs since 2000.
Beyond the charm of his last name, Chris Shula brings many qualities the Dolphins should look for in a head coach. With over 15 years of coaching experience, he has a proven ability to get the most out of talent development and knows what a winning culture looks like and what it looks like.