The Miami Dolphins are set to conduct a virtual interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula on Friday, making him the sixth candidate to formally speak with the team during their ongoing head coaching search. So far, only one candidate - former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski - has met with the Dolphins in person.
That’s not a knock on Shula or the process. NFL rules restrict in-person interviews for coaches currently employed by playoff teams until January 19, or until their team is eliminated from postseason play.
The Rams are still in the hunt, gearing up for their divisional round showdown with the Chicago Bears on Sunday. A win there would punch their ticket to the NFC Championship Game on January 25.
In the meantime, the league allows virtual interviews during designated windows - and Friday is one of them. It’s a tight schedule for coaches still in the playoff grind, but the NFL tries to balance competitive integrity with the hiring cycle.
Coaches like Shula are taking full advantage of the window, lining up multiple virtual meetings. According to reports, he’s scheduled to speak with the Dolphins, Ravens, and Steelers - all on Friday.
For Shula, this is another milestone in a steady climb up the coaching ladder. He joined the Rams back in 2017 as an assistant linebackers coach and has since worked his way up the ranks, culminating in his promotion to defensive coordinator in 2024. Before his time in Los Angeles, he spent two seasons with the San Diego Chargers as a defensive quality control coach, following a five-year run in the college ranks.
But what really adds intrigue to this interview - at least in Miami - is the last name. Chris Shula is the grandson of Don Shula, the legendary Dolphins head coach who practically defines the franchise’s golden era.
Don Shula coached the Dolphins for 26 seasons, led them to two Super Bowl titles, and still holds the record for most wins by a head coach in NFL history with 347. His legacy is etched into the DNA of the team, from the Perfect Season in 1972 to his spot on the NFL 100 All-Time Team.
If the Dolphins were to hire Chris, it would instantly connect the present to the franchise’s storied past. It’s a powerful narrative - the grandson of the greatest coach in team history returning to lead the same organization.
But with that connection comes weighty expectations. The Shula name carries a legacy of excellence, and any successor would be measured - fairly or not - against that towering standard.
For now, though, it’s just a virtual interview. The Dolphins are casting a wide net, and Chris Shula is getting his shot. Whether it leads to a homecoming remains to be seen, but the conversation alone is enough to stir memories and raise eyebrows across South Florida.