St. Louis Rams’ Recent Major Hires

ST. LOUIS – Due to the fact that the Rams did not make the playoffs this season, the Rams’ off-season started earlier than playoff teams. Former Rams’ head coach, Steve Spagnuolo, was fired on Black Monday, the day after the last regular season game, due to his 10-38 record over his three seasons with the Rams, including this year’s 2-14 record. Former Rams’ offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, quickly got out of St. Louis to take the job as the New England Patriots’ offensive assistant, where his new team is in the AFC Championship game. Former Rams’ defensive coordinator, Ken Flajole, will not return with the same job title next season with the Rams either because, like the offense, his defense was ranked in the bottom half of the league, particularly against the run.

The head coaching vacancy lasted for about two weeks. The most sought-after coach happened to go to the Rams. Jeff Fisher, former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans head coach, will take the same job as a Ram. The decision was basically down to St. Louis and the Miami Dolphins. Some reasons why Fisher chose St. Louis over Miami is because the Rams have former #1 overall QB Sam Bradford, the #2 overall pick this year, a better salary-cap and the fact that the Rams’ COO, Kevin Demoff, is the son of Marvin Demoff, Fisher’s agent. Rams offensive playmakers have praised the decision.

Fisher was the longest-tenured head coach at seventeen years, all with the Oilers/Titans. His regular season record is 142-120 and post-season record is 5-6. St. Louis Rams fans remember him from taking the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999, where they lost to the St. Louis Rams. Los Angeles Rams fans remember Fisher as their defensive coordinator in 1991. All that is left to do is to finalize the contract details, so the terms are set, but are undisclosed.

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The offensive coordinator vacancy was just filled yesterday with former New York Jets’ offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer, accepting the same position as a St. Louis Ram. Brian was available because he quit the Jets after six seasons because the offense didn’t fulfill expectations. All that is left to do is to figure out the contract negotiations.

The defensive coordinator vacancy was just filled today with former New Orleans’ defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, accepting the same position as a St. Louis Ram. A big reason why Williams took the job was because he was Fisher’s defensive coordinator from 1997 to 2000 when they were Titans. All that is left to do is to figure out the contract negotiations.

Former Rams’ general manager, Billy Devaney, was fired on Black Monday, as well, but the position has yet to be filled. The Rams so far have met with Ran Grigson, Philadelphia Eagles’ director of player personnel, Lake Dawson, Tennessee Titans’ vice president of football operations, and Les Snead, Atlanta Falcons’ director of player personnel. Several others are likely to meet for the GM position until it is filled.

By Trevor Roe
ProFootball-fans.com St. Louis Rams Correspondent