Aubrey Pleasant is knocking on the door of his biggest NFL opportunity yet.
After two separate stints with the Los Angeles Rams-most recently as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator-Pleasant is now in the mix for defensive coordinator roles with both the Arizona Cardinals and the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. And if you’ve followed his coaching journey, this moment feels like a natural next step.
Pleasant brings with him seven years of NFL experience with the Rams, one of the league’s more respected operations when it comes to coaching development and defensive structure. He’s also logged time with the Michigan Wolverines, Washington, and the Detroit Lions, steadily climbing the ladder while carving out a reputation as a sharp defensive mind, particularly in the secondary. A former Wisconsin Badgers safety himself, Pleasant’s path has been built on grinding through the ranks and earning trust in some high-level rooms.
He recently interviewed for the Chargers’ defensive coordinator job, which has since been filled, but the fact that he’s getting multiple looks tells you something: teams are paying attention. And for good reason.
Let’s look at what Pleasant brings to the table. His expertise in the secondary is no small detail-especially considering the Rams finished top-seven in the league with 16 interceptions last season.
That kind of ball production doesn’t happen by accident. Yes, the Rams were middle-of-the-pack in passing yards allowed per game (19th at 216.7), but they played with a clear identity: bend, don’t break.
And Pleasant had a hand in shaping that approach. His units were opportunistic, aggressive when needed, and disciplined in key moments.
That’s the kind of mindset teams like the Cardinals and Browns could use right now.
Arizona, in particular, is coming off a rough year defensively-bottom-six in both points and yards allowed per game. They’re a team still trying to find its footing, and with questions lingering at quarterback, defense might need to be the foundation they build on. Cleveland, meanwhile, has talent on that side of the ball but may be looking for a fresh voice to elevate them even further.
Hiring a first-time defensive coordinator always carries some risk, especially for teams trying to climb out of the basement or stabilize after a chaotic stretch. But there’s also upside-just ask Mike Macdonald, who helped lead his team to a Super Bowl 60 title in his first year as a DC. Sometimes, betting on a rising coach with a clear vision pays off in a big way.
Pleasant isn’t being crowned the next big thing just yet, but he’s put himself in the conversation. Learning under Sean McVay, contributing to a playoff-caliber defense, and now getting real interest from multiple franchises-this is how coaching careers take off.
Before any of that can happen, though, he’ll need to nail these interviews. But make no mistake: Aubrey Pleasant is on the radar, and he might not be waiting much longer for his shot.