According to a report, the Miami Dolphins will interview Don Shula’s grandson Chris on Thursday.
The younger Shula currently serves as a pass rush coordinator and linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Rams franchise.
The #Dolphins are interviewing Chris Shula — grandson of legendary coach Don Shula — for their defensive coordinator job today, per source.
Chris Shula has spent the past seven seasons as an assistant with the #Rams, most recently as pass rush coordinator/linebackers coach. pic.twitter.com/R8G83MWtNd
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 1, 2024
The elder Shula had over three decades of experience as an NFL head coach. He began his NFL head coaching career with the Baltimore Colts back in the 1963 season.
The Hall of Famer went on to coach the Colts for seven seasons before joining the Dolphins as their head coach in the 1970 season. He spent two-plus decades as the head coach of the Dolphins, with his last season coming in the 1995 campaign, when he coached Miami to a 9-7 regular-season record.
During his time as the head coach of the Dolphins, the elder Shula led the team to two Super Bowl victories in 1973 and 1974. Miami finished the 1972 regular season with a 14-0 record and 1973 regular season with a 12-2 record.
The Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins by seven points in the 1973 Super Bowl and Minnesota Vikings by 17 in the 1974 Super Bowl.
The last time that the elder Shula coached Miami to an AFC title came in the 1984 season. The Dolphins ended the regular season with a 14-2 record and lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl by a final score of 38-16.
The younger Shula helped lead the Rams to a 10-7 record during the 2023 regular season, which was the second-best record in the NFC West division, behind only the 49ers.
But the Rams lost their playoff game on Jan. 14 against the Detroit Lions by a final score of 24-23. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns compared to zero interceptions, but his production wasn’t enough to lead Los Angeles to a win.
Considering the younger Shula’s work with the Rams and all of the success that the elder Shula enjoyed with Miami, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Dolphins will interview the younger Shula for their defensive coordinator position.
