Is Chris Shula destined to be the Dolphins head coach?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported this week that L.A. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is “a sneaky name to watch” for head coaching positions and that he has heard Shula’s name “enough over the past week” to think it was worth mentioning. Of all the teams that Shula would presumably be destined to go to, the Miami Dolphins are atop the list and many are starting to believe that the team is ready to part ways with Mike McDaniel at the end of the season.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported two weeks ago that “people around the NFL have their eye on Miami and wonder whether there’s a change” if the Dolphins continue to get worse.
The Dolphins are 6-8 and have lost two of their last three, with the win being Miami barely escaping against the Jets in overtime despite playing at home. Of course, Miami is the home of the most famous “Shula” in history, if not the most notable coaching name that there is:
Dolphins Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, who is also Chris Shula’s grandfather.
The Dolphins interviewed Shula for their defensive coordinator position this year before he took the same job with the Rams and Miami went with Anthony Weaver. Miami’s issues all seem to be on the offensive side of the ball however, so were they to make a change it may not necessarily indicate that they want to hire another offensive-minded head coach like McDaniel, but certainly that they are firing him because the offense underdelivered.
Miami’s defensive run game coordinator is Joe Barry, another former Rams assistant.