Rams to hire O’Connell as OC, Staley as DC

Los Angeles Rams HC Sean McVay | Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Friday night news dump!

It is Friday night before the divisional round of the 2020 NFL Playoffs. Since the Los Angeles Rams aren’t involved, there’s no news to report.

Folks, that’s an ol’ classic January lie. You know the deal.

Big news breaking tonight as the Rams have filled vacancies for offensive coordinator (didn’t know there was a vacancy there) and defensive coordinator.

On the offensive side, they’re hiring Kevin O’Connell to be offensive coordinator. O’Connell was a third-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft whose career as a quarterback never developed. He worked his way up the ranks taking on various positions on Washington’s staff the last three years serving as OC this last season. McVay hasn’t had a single offensive coordinator since 2017 when Matt LaFleur served in the role without playcalling responsibilities. The last two years, the duties were split between Offensive Line Coach Aaron Kromer who oversaw the running game and Tight Ends Coach for 2018 and Quarterbacks Coach for 2019 Shane Waldron. No word on what this means for those two.

To replace outgoing Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, McVay has tabbed Brandon Staley, the young outside linebackers coach from the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears the two years prior working under Broncos HC and former Bears DC Vic Fangio. I’ll be honest. I heard of Staley years ago as James Madison’s defensive coordinator as they have one of the best programs in the FCS (playing tomorrow in the FCS Championship, in fact). I honestly didn’t know he was in the NFL as of late, so I don’t have much to pass on here.

That McVay has gone with such young options is a clear indication of his confidence in his authority. No longer is he relying upon wizened veteran coaches like Phillips or Greg Olson. This staff has suddenly gotten much, much younger at the top, and clearly isn’t attached to the NFL of old.

All hail the new guard.

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