The Los Angeles Rams managed to navigate the initial wave of the NFL’s annual coaching carousel with minimal disruption - a rare luxury in today’s league. The lone departure?
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who’s stepping into the head coaching role with the Arizona Cardinals. Considering how many Rams assistants were in the mix for top jobs, losing just one felt like a win.
But that first wave was just the beginning.
Now comes the second ripple effect - when new head coaches start building out their staffs. And that’s where things could get trickier for the Rams.
Assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant is currently interviewing for defensive coordinator jobs with both the Cardinals and the Cleveland Browns. He’s a strong candidate, and there’s a real chance he lands one of those gigs.
If he does, that’s not just another name off the staff list - that’s a significant blow.
Pleasant has been a key voice in the Rams’ defensive room, especially when it comes to the secondary. And that’s a unit that already showed signs of vulnerability in 2025.
The Rams’ defensive backs struggled down the stretch, particularly in high-leverage moments. It wasn’t just fans noticing - even national analysts like ESPN’s Louis Riddick pointed it out.
Now add in the fact that several members of that secondary are set to hit free agency. That’s a lot of uncertainty for a group that’s already in flux.
Here’s where it gets complicated: new coaches can’t be expected to immediately fix issues they didn’t create. That puts added pressure on the front office - especially general manager Les Snead - to nail the upcoming draft and free agency cycle.
Without a clear vision from the coaching staff, personnel decisions get harder. You risk drafting players who don’t fit the incoming coach’s system, or bringing in veterans who don’t mesh with the new philosophy.
Yes, Pleasant was on staff during the secondary’s regression. But context matters.
The Rams were dealing with a thinner talent pool, and injuries to key players like cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and defensive back Quentin Lake disrupted continuity when it mattered most. Communication breakdowns followed, and the results showed on the field.
Still, Pleasant’s track record includes some bright spots - notably the turnaround of Emmanuel Forbes Jr., who came in with question marks and ended the season as a more reliable contributor. That kind of player development matters, especially when you’re trying to rebuild a position group on the fly.
And with as many as five defensive backs potentially heading into free agency, Pleasant’s departure could create a domino effect. Even if the Rams want to re-sign some of those players, they might prefer to follow Pleasant to his next stop - especially if they thrived under his leadership.
There’s still a chance he stays in Los Angeles. But if he does take a defensive coordinator role elsewhere, it could leave a bigger hole than the Rams anticipated - not just in their coaching staff, but in the identity of their defense.
For now, the Rams are holding steady. But the second wave of the coaching carousel is here - and it’s about to test the depth of LA’s coaching pipeline and the adaptability of a front office that’s already facing a critical offseason.