Los Angeles Rams’ coaching search turns next to coordinators McDaniels, Patricia and Shanahan
The window for interviewing coaches on the staffs of NFL teams with playoff byes opens and closes this weekend, so the Rams will focus their efforts on New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
All have interviews lined up this weekend with multiple teams searching for head coaches.
The Patriots and Falcons open the playoffs Jan. 14. McDaniels, Patricia and Shanahan won’t be available for follow-up interviews until after those games. If their teams make Super Bowl runs they could not be hired until after the championship game Feb. 5.
On Thursday, the Rams interviewed Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay and Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin.
McDaniels and Patricia will be interviewed Saturday, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
McDaniels, 40, already has had one stint as an NFL head coach. After three seasons as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, he was hired by the Denver Broncos in 2009 but was fired after compiling an 11-17 record in less than two seasons.
He was the Rams’ offensive coordinator in 2011 before returning to the Patriots in 2012.
This season, the Patriots were without suspended quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games but still finished fourth in the NFL in offense, averaging 386.2 yards a game. They averaged 27.6 points, which ranked third in the league.
Patricia, 42, oversees a defense that gave up only 15.6 points a game, fewest in the NFL. It ranked eighth overall, giving up an average of 326.4 yards.
Shanahan, 37, is in his second season as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator. This season, he oversaw a unit featuring quarterback Matt Ryan that ranked first in scoring (33.8 points a game) and second in offense (415.8 yards a game).
Shanahan is the son of former NFL coach Mike Shanahan.
The Rams met previously with Rams special teams coordinator John Fassel and Carolina Panthers secondary coach Steve Wilks.
The Rams will interview Buffalo Bills interim coach Anthony Lynn next week. They also are expected to speak with Jacksonville Jaguars interim coach Doug Marrone and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Quick hits
Rock Gullickson, the Rams’ strength and conditioning coach since 2009, will take a position at the University of Tennessee, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed. ... The Rams did not win a game in December, but that did not stop punter Johnny Hekker from gaining recognition as the NFC special teams players of the month. Hekker, voted to the Pro Bowl for the third time in four seasons, led the NFL with a 47.8-yard average. He also was first in net average at 46.0 yards per kick.
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