DC Chris Shula’s family history and collaborative mindset put him on the coaching path from a young age (2024)

By Wyatt Miller

Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula had a unique childhood. His dad, David Shula, was an NFL coach for multiple teams, while his grandfather, Don Shula, was the winningest head coach in the sport's history. And they were active at the same time.

On Oct. 2, 1994, an 8-year-old Chris was in the stands to watch his father's Bengals take on his grandfather's Dolphins. It would be the first father-son head coach matchup in NFL history, dubbed the "Shula Bowl," and previewed by a video feature on the family dynamic.

The elder Shula came out victorious, winning 23-7. Afterward, he came to visit his son and put his arm around him – "he knew how much it meant. It was a special moment," David told CBS Miami after his father's passing in 2020. But that wasn't the only time they met. 364 days later, the two faced off again. This one was a nail-biter, but Bengals kicker Doug Pelfrey missed the game-tying field goal from 44 yards out as time expired, and the Dolphins won, 26-23.

After the game, 9-year-old Chris was in the locker room when his grandfather came in. The two head coaches talked about the game and what the Bengals could do better, because Don wasn't there as a coach – once again, he was there as a father.

"My dad was just so upset and you just see the father figure that he was," Chris said. "It was very interesting and eye-opening, something I'll never forget."

Those meetings epitomize the Shulas' nature. They care about differing perspectives, the individuals around them and they "never stop learning," Chris said. Rams head coach Sean McVay has perpetuated those same values by surrounding himself with smart and caring people to be part of the Rams' familial culture. Chris is a longstanding member of that group, as he's entering his eighth season with the team, but his first as defensive coordinator.

When Chris first got into coaching, he was hesitant to tell people his last name, not wanting anyone to think he didn't earn the positions he got. Now, it's something he's "extremely proud of."

"I take a lot of pride in (my last name) just because of, not only my dad and my grandpa but my uncle as well, and the character that they had and the types of coaches that they were and the types of human beings that they were," Chris said in his introductory press conference on Feb. 6.

McVay had many reasons for hiring Chris. The two have a long history together, having played together at Miami (OH), and McVay brought on his former teammate as an assistant linebackers coach when he got the Rams' top job in 2017. Since then, Chris has coached all three levels of the defense, progressing to outside linebackers coach, then linebackers coach, defensive backs coach, defensive pass game coordinator and pass rush coordinator.

But apart from his extensive experience with the Rams' defense, Chris embraces collaboration with not only coaches, but players as well. McVay prizes that attribute.

"My defensive philosophy is it's about the players," Chris said in February.

"It's hard not to love Chris Shula," McVay said. "He's that guy that, you know, everybody feels like he's their best friend because he's so present when he's with you. He's so authentic, he's so refreshingly secure in who he is, and he's been prepared for this opportunity."

That welcoming nature was always present due to his family, but grew while he worked under former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. His joy and love for his daily process was infectious, and Chris tries to approach every day with that same passion.

"Since I started coaching, I feel like I haven't worked a day in my life," Chris said.

Morris' film skills also rubbed off on him. The knowledge he possessed about not just the defense, but opposing offenses, emphasized the importance of preparation.

Previous defensive coordinators Wade Phillips and Brandon Staley were also significant influences for Chris. Of Phillips, he said "the genius was in the simplicity." His coaches and players had autonomy, but constant communication meant everyone was always on the same page come gameday. Meanwhile, Staley was more of an innovator. He loved to learn and always knew the latest trends across the league.

Chris worked closely with all three of his predecessors, and has taken parts of their philosophies with him now that he's in their chair.

"Never be too hard-headed to change your opinion and surround yourself with really smart people," is something that Chris said his father and grandfather both practiced, and he's done just that with all the coaches and players he's come across.

"Guys that have earned their stripes, you wouldn't be very smart if you didn't take advantage of their knowledge and get their opinions on things," David said.

Despite David's historical appointment, he decided to get out of coaching after he was fired by the Bengals in 1995. Instead, he focused on providing a stable environment for his children as they moved into middle and high school, while he took over the running of Shula's Steakhouse.

"We had a couple tough years as a family with my dad as the head coach of the Bengals," Chris said. "I know the tax it can put on a family, moving around and stuff."

Fortunately for Chris' wife, Jennifer, and their children, he has spent his entire professional career in Southern California. When Chris got his first opportunity with the Chargers in 2015, Craig Aukerman, his former linebacker coach at Miami (OH), was the one who recommended him to then-head coach Mike McCoy. He didn't even tell McCoy Chris' last name until right before the interview when he handed him the resume.

Chris has now spent his entire NFL coaching career, spanning over nine years, in the same spot, and his wife has been in "fantasy land" because of that stability, he said.

But coaching was always in the cards for him – David said he "never thought that (Chris) would do anything else." Even from a young age, he liked to organize neighborhood games and refused to play if they weren't keeping score. He'd run around Bengals training camp at Wilmington College, spotting the ball as he and his brothers messed around with players.

As he grew older, Chris started studying the game, just as his dad had done. David used to get into the Dolphins' facility before his father when he was an assistant there, studying plays and tendencies in service of his ultimate goal: to become a head coach, according to the New York Times.

That's also something his son desires, and his experience at Miami (OH) put him on the right path to achieve it. The "Cradle of Coaches" is a nickname given to the university due to their history of producing successful football coaches. That list includes, but is not limited to, Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, John Harbaugh, and of course, McVay.

"I knew (he would be come a coach) just watching him play," Aukerman said of Chris. "Being able to be trustworthy, versatile, smart."

McVay played for the RedHawks at the same time as Chris and Rams outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio. They were good friends who shared high aspirations of succeeding in the football world. All three got into coaching shortly after their college careers ended, and now they're back together on the Rams.

"Those guys were two steps ahead of a lot of their teammates," Aukerman said. "They were able to communicate with coaches, and the coaches obviously trusted their opinion."

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They were part of a friend group that would go down to the Shula house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during spring break. And just like with the neighborhood games, Chris would organize the whole thing, providing his friends with a safe place to stay and have fun before they returned to school and got back to business.

The Shulas took in all of Chris' friends for a week and treated them like family. They became so close that Chris' parents were even invited to Coniglio's wedding.

"We aligned with our values and our principles," Coniglio said. "(Chris) was a guy that I looked up to just in regards to his hard work, his dedication, the way he went about his business."

And all of that is still true today, Coniglio added. There's always been a measure of consistency with Chris.

"Chris is very approachable and someone you can go to for anything," Coniglio said. "He is a trustworthy and loyal friend. He provides great advice and stays steady. He sets a standard by the way he approaches football and his everyday life - his habits are ones I strive to emulate to this day... Chris truly never has a bad day."

In meetings, Coniglio said it's common for Chris to talk through the best ways to approach certain positions or situations. And because he's coached all three levels of the defense, he does that for every position group.

"He just approaches things in a very disarming way," Coniglio said. "It's not a dictatorship, we just want to get to the right answer together and do the best thing for the LA Rams and I think the cool thing is, as we collaborate through that stuff, we all kind of come to the same answer anyways."

All three former RedHawks share that concerted approach to coaching, which is one reason McVay wanted Chris – a like-minded individual – as his defensive coordinator.

Apart from a collaborative identity, McVay shares a distinct accomplishment with Don and David Shula: All three were the youngest head coach in NFL history during their respective careers. Don got the nod from the Baltimore Colts at 33 years old in 1963, then his son surpassed him when he was named head coach of the Bengals in 1992, at 32 years old. McVay took the title in 2017 at just 30 years old.

Chris has been part of all three coaches' journeys, whether as a son, grandson, or assistant coach. But each of them are family in one way or another.

"(Don) was our dad, obviously, but we always knew that he was part of a bigger family than ours," David told CBS Miami.

In the same sense, Chris is an integral part of the Rams' family.