The Los Angeles Rams have spent much of the Sean McVay era proving they can win with elite offense and adaptable defense. In 2025, however, a familiar weak spot finally forced the organization’s hand.
After four losses this season — three of them directly impacted by special teams failures — McVay made a decisive move in the aftermath of the Rams’ overtime loss to Seattle. Chase Blackburn, who had served as the team’s special teams coordinator for the past three seasons, was dismissed. Assistant Ben Kotwica remains on staff, but the message was unmistakable: incremental fixes are no longer enough.
If the Rams are serious about contending deep into January, the next hire must be more than safe. This is a moment to swing big.
Support Local and Independent Sports Writing – Subscribe To the LAFB Network Today!
Why the Change Was Inevitable
The breaking point came Thursday night in Seattle. Leading by 16 points in the fourth quarter, the Rams allowed Rashid Shaheed to return a punt 58 yards for a touchdown — a momentum-shifting play that fueled a Seahawks comeback and a 38-37 overtime defeat.
It wasn’t an isolated incident.
In Philadelphia earlier this season, the Eagles blocked two Joshua Karty field-goal attempts, returning the second for a walk-off touchdown. Against San Francisco two weeks later, the Rams missed a long field goal, had an extra point blocked, and then surrendered field position in overtime when a kickoff failed to reach the landing zone.
Earlier this month, Blackburn had said, “The job of a special teams coach is to be able to adapt and overcome on all things.” The Rams simply didn’t.
Statistically, the issues were impossible to ignore. Los Angeles has ranked in the bottom third of the league in special teams EPA per play for four straight seasons, finishing dead last in 2023. Punt coverage has been particularly damaging in both 2023 and 2025, while kickoff touchback rate plummeted to 18.2% this season after sitting above 60% in prior years.
Personnel changes helped stabilize the kicking game — Harrison Mevis and Jake McQuaide provided reliability late — but systemic problems remained. At that point, a philosophical reset became unavoidable.
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Rams YouTube Channel
What the Rams Should Be Looking For
This is not a developmental hire. McVay’s roster is built to win now, and special teams can no longer be treated as a secondary phase. The next coordinator must bring authority, creativity, and a proven ability to correct issues quickly.
Here are six candidates who fit that mandate.
Darren Rizzi — Denver Broncos
If the Rams want instant credibility, Rizzi stands at the top of the list. Widely regarded as one of the NFL’s premier special teams coaches, Rizzi’s units in New Orleans have been consistently disciplined and prepared. His leadership has been so trusted that he has even served as an interim head coach.
Rizzi would bring immediate structure and accountability — exactly what the Rams have lacked in critical moments. He is currently the special teams coordinator for the Denver Broncos.
This Puka-Flex T-Shirt Is Illegal In Philly
John Fassel — Tennessee Titans
Few coaches have been as consistently excellent in this phase as Fassel. Now with the Tennesse Titans, previously with Dallas, he routinely finished near the top of special teams metrics, and Fassel’s aggressive, creative approach shows up weekly.
Just as important, Fassel already knows McVay’s culture. He was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning staff, making him a seamless schematic and philosophical fit if the Tennessee Titans were willing to let him go.
Matt Daniels — Minnesota Vikings
Daniels represents the modern upside play. Still relatively young, he has quickly built a reputation in Minnesota for clarity, communication, and fundamentals. His units are assignment-clean, even amid roster turnover, and players consistently praise his preparation.
For a team seeking long-term stability rather than short-term patchwork, Daniels is a compelling option.
Chris Tabor — Buffalo Bills
Tabor may not be flashy, but he is respected across the league for a reason. His units emphasize discipline, coverage integrity, and situational awareness — precisely where the Rams have faltered.
For a roster already loaded with star power, reliability alone could be transformative.
Jay Harbaugh — Seattle Seahawks
Harbaugh, son of Jim Harbaugh, is the most intriguing name on the list. After innovative work with his uncle in Baltimore, one of the NFL’s gold standards for special teams excellence. He joined his father in Michigan. From there, he left the Harbaugh family wing, taking the coordinator job in Seattle. He is viewed as creative, detail-oriented, and forward-thinking.
This would be a bold hire — less about reputation and more about trajectory — but one that aligns with McVay’s willingness to bet on rising coaching talent.
Joe Judge — Ol’ Miss
Judge’s head coaching tenure in New York fell flat, but his special teams résumé remains strong. A product of the Belichick coaching tree, Judge is demanding, detail-obsessed, and respected by veterans.
If Ol’ Miss looks to clean house after Lane Kiffin’s departure, Judge could re-emerge as the most gettable high-end option as coordinator, bringing experience and edge to a Rams unit that has lacked both.
A Defining Decision
The Rams didn’t fire Blackburn simply to reshuffle responsibilities. They did it because special teams have actively cost them games — and potentially playoff positioning.
With a high-powered offense, an elite defense, and Super Bowl aspirations still very much alive, McVay’s next hire must reflect urgency. This is the rare moment where a coordinator can change a season’s trajectory.
The Rams don’t need safe. They need significant.