Rams Interview Raider Assistant Ortmayer

The Rams have interviewed Steve Ortmayer, Raider special teams coach, and the team could name him vice president of football operations as early as Wednesday, sources said.

Ortmayer, who has had front-office experience with the Raiders and San Diego Chargers, would oversee all personnel matters with the Rams, but his responsibilities would fall short of those held by most general managers in the NFL.

“I asked for permission from Al Davis recently and I have interviewed Steve,” Ram President John Shaw said. “We’re still talking. We’ll see what happens with the coach (Chuck Knox) and at some point he will interview with ownership (Georgia Frontiere).”

Both Ortmayer and Shaw said Saturday that no deal is in place, but Ortmayer has been the only one interviewed for the post.

“It’s something I have been thinking about for a year,” Shaw said. “It’s an addition to what we are doing. It’s something we almost did a year ago.”

Ortmayer was special teams coach for the Raiders from 1978 through ‘86, and during that time also handled administrative duties for Davis.

Ortmayer left the Raiders in 1987 to become director of football operations for the Chargers but fell out of favor with owner Alex Spanos once Bobby Beathard became available. Spanos dismissed Ortmayer late in 1989 and he returned to the Raiders the next year.