Sean McVay didn’t wait for the season to end to address what the Los Angeles Rams believe has become a competitive liability. In the immediate aftermath of Thursday night’s collapse in Seattle, the Rams head coach made a rare in-season coordinator change — and was clear about what must improve.
“You’re going to keep a lot of the foundational things,” McVay said. “But I think there’s some things that we want to have reflected in our style of play and the way that we go about our overall approach that I think will be improved.”
That expectation-setting framed McVay’s decision to move on from special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn and elevate assistant Ben Kotwica, signaling that while the Rams aren’t reinventing their operation, incremental improvement in one critical phase is now non-negotiable with the playoffs approaching.
The move marked the first time McVay has dismissed a coordinator midseason — a reflection of both urgency and accountability after a loss that exposed issues opponents had quietly targeted all year.
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Bringing in Ben Kotwica and Matt Harper
Kotwica joined the Rams in 2025 as assistant special teams coach after two seasons as Denver’s coordinator, bringing 17 years of NFL experience across six teams. McVay expressed confidence in Kotwica’s ability to guide the unit, noting his leadership, accountability, and proven track record of improving coverage, returns, and field-goal efficiency.
“Ben has done a nice job,” McVay said. “I know his capacity. I know the accountability. I know the core beliefs that he has.”
Kotwica will now be supported by Matt Harper, a veteran assistant who has worked with the Eagles and 49ers. While McVay has never coached directly with Harper, he emphasized familiarity from coaching against him and trust in the duo’s combined ability to improve performance quickly.
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The Collapse in Seattle
The urgency behind the decision was crystallized in Seattle, where a 16-point Rams lead evaporated in the fourth quarter, culminating in Rashid Shaheed’s 58-yard punt return touchdown. Shaheed later confirmed the Seahawks had meticulously studied the Rams’ special teams and identified weaknesses in coverage.
“Based off field position we knew we were going to be able to get a return,” Shaheed said. “We’ve been focused on that left return all week. We knew they had kind of a weak point with their special teams.”
Seattle’s patience paid off. One snap later, a comfortable Rams lead turned into a one-score game, ultimately flipping the NFC West race and exposing vulnerabilities that had persisted all season.
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Season-Long Special Teams Struggles
Thursday’s breakdown wasn’t isolated. Through Week 16, Los Angeles ranked 30th in special teams EPA per play and 25th by DVOA, consistently struggling with missed kicks, blocked attempts, and poor coverage. The performance pattern was clear: opponents had noticed, prepared for, and exploited weaknesses.
McVay acknowledged his responsibility. “First and foremost, it’s my responsibility for us to do better in that phase,” he said. “This is an opportunity to use the last couple of weeks leading into the playoffs to establish some of the things that we want.”
Ben Kotwica’s Track Record
Kotwica’s history suggests he can deliver results quickly. In 2024 with Denver, his unit finished first in punt return average (15.7), sixth in field goal percentage (91.2%), and recorded franchise-best kick and punt return averages. He’s overseen All-Pro and Pro Bowl performers at multiple positions and has experience correcting special teams inefficiencies in multiple franchises.
Whether it’s punt coverage, kickoff returns, or field-goal consistency, Kotwica’s leadership is expected to reflect McVay’s earlier emphasis on improving the Rams’ “style of play” and overall approach.
Playoff Implications
The Rams remain 11–4 and firmly in playoff contention, but Thursday’s loss underscored a critical truth: postseason games are often decided by the smallest margins — hidden yards, field-position swings, and one lapse in execution.
With Kotwica and Harper now at the helm of special teams, McVay’s hope is that the lessons of Seattle are quickly corrected, and that the unit can match the high expectations he outlined: retaining foundational principles while improving execution where it matters most.