Aubrey Pleasant is back on the NFL radar in a big way. The Rams’ defensive pass game coordinator is meeting with both the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns today as each team looks to fill its defensive coordinator vacancy.
For Arizona, Pleasant becomes the first known candidate to sit down with new head coach Mike LaFleur. That’s a notable step for a franchise undergoing significant transition, and it signals that LaFleur is casting a wide net in shaping his first coaching staff.
Over in Cleveland, Pleasant joins a growing list of candidates under consideration. The Browns have already interviewed two internal options - safeties coach Ephraim Banda and linebackers coach Jason Tarver - while also requesting interviews with Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen and Panthers defensive pass game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. Pleasant’s meeting adds another layer to an already competitive search.
At 38, Pleasant brings a well-traveled résumé and a reputation for versatility. He began his coaching career in college back in 2012 as Michigan’s assistant defensive backs coach.
From there, he made the jump to the NFL, with early stops in Cleveland and Washington before landing with the Rams in 2017. That stint proved pivotal - he carved out a niche working with the secondary and eventually became the team’s cornerbacks coach.
In 2021, Pleasant took on a bigger role in Detroit as the Lions’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. But that chapter was short-lived - he was let go during the 2022 season.
Still, Pleasant didn’t stay off the sidelines for long. He finished that season as a consultant with the Packers before reuniting with the Rams in 2023, this time with the added title of assistant head coach.
What stands out about Pleasant is his ability to adapt. He’s coached both sides of the ball, worked under a variety of defensive minds, and handled everything from player development to game planning. That kind of flexibility is increasingly valuable in today’s NFL, where defensive coordinators are expected to be part strategist, part teacher, and part motivator.
Whether it’s in Arizona under a first-time head coach or in Cleveland on a team with playoff aspirations, Pleasant is firmly in the mix. And with interviews happening today, we could be getting closer to seeing where his next chapter begins.