Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is generating buzz as a potential head coach for teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants. Reports indicate his name has surfaced amid speculation about openings, highlighting his family legacy and recent defensive success. At 39, Shula fits the profile of young coordinators rising in the NFL coaching ranks.
As the 2025 NFL regular season concludes, the coaching carousel is heating up with two confirmed vacancies at the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants. Among the names drawing attention is Chris Shula, the Rams' defensive coordinator, whose promotion to the role in 2024 has paid off with a No. 8 scoring defense this season—a marked improvement from prior years.
SI.com's Albert Breer reported on January 2, 2026, that Shula's name has been connected to the Steelers in case of a head coach opening for Mike Tomlin, whose future remains uncertain with a 2027 team option decision looming in March. Breer wrote, “Shula’s name has been connected to the Steelers, in case there is an opening,” noting similar buzz around the Ravens and Bills but emphasizing Shula as a potential successor. Historical ties add intrigue: Shula is the grandson of legendary coach Don Shula, who hired Chuck Noll—later a Steelers icon—from his Baltimore Colts staff in 1969. His father, Dave Shula, also coached in the NFL, and Chris shares indirect connections through past Steelers personnel.
For the Giants, who fired Brian Daboll eight weeks ago and installed Mike Kafka as interim coach (now 1-5 in that role), Shula ranks highly among coordinator candidates. CBS Sports placed him in the top tier of current coordinators, praising him as a “rising star” with ties to Sean McVay, whose coaching tree has influenced recent hires. Shula has also kept the Rams' defense competitive post-Aaron Donald. ESPN's Jordan Raanan listed him alongside other interviewees like former Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Colts DC Lou Anarumo (59, nicknamed the “Mad Scientist” for scheming against elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes), ex-Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, and Mike McCarthy.
Breer also linked Shula to the Titans and Giants, positioning him as a hot name. The Steelers value youth and NFL bloodlines—Noll was 37, Bill Cowher and Tomlin both 34 at hiring—and Shula, at 39, aligns with that emphasis on long tenures. While Teryl Austin's contract as Steelers DC expires this season, a lateral move for Shula remains possible. For now, the connections underscore Shula's growing profile in league circles.
