Coaching ties add layer to Rams-Falcons Monday Night clash

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams (11-4) are two days away from a Monday Night Football matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a building they have not visited since 2019. The game brings together two head coaches whose professional paths have intertwined for nearly two decades. 

Despite the teams facing each other only three times during the Sean McVay era, there is history between two head coaches stretching across 17 years.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris is in his second season leading Atlanta after spending three years on McVay’s staff as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. Morris joined Los Angeles in 2021 and played a vital role in the Rams' Super Bowl 56 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. 

McVay and Morris met back in 2008, when the two coached under Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay. Morris would take over as head coach after Gruden's firing in 2009 and led the Buccaneers until 2011 while McVay would go off to coach wide receivers for the Florida Tuskers.

The two reunited in 2012 when the Washington Redskins hired Morris as the team's defensive coordinator while McVay coached tight ends. McVay would eventually be promoted to offensive coordinator before being hired by the Rams in 2017. 

The relationship between the head coaches paved a path for two teams to complete a trade in April during the 2025 NFL draft. The Falcons traded their 2026 first-round pick in exchange to move back into the first round to draft edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at 26th overall.

Morris' first two seasons have not gone according to plan, owning a 14-18 record in 32 games. Despite multiple explosive offensive weapons in Drake London and Bijan Robinson, the Falcons have failed to reach the postseason in each of Morris' two seasons as head coach. 

Los Angeles defensive coordinator Chris Shula replaced Morris following his departure to Atlanta. Shula worked under Morris from 2021-23 as the outside linebackers coach, defensive passing game coordinator and pass rush coordinator before being promoted to fill the vacancy. Shula described the relationship he built during his three seasons working under Morris.

"He's one of my best friends," Shula said. "I owe him a lot."

Shula’s defense has been a driving force behind the Rams’ success in 2025, allowing the sixth-fewest points per game (19.9) in the NFL. His work with one of the league’s top defenses has drawn interest from teams searching for a head coach in 2026. Shula is expected to interview with the Tennessee Titans, who fired head coach Brian Callahan in October. The defensive coordinator credits Morris for helping him develop as a coach. 

"He's taught me so much," Shula said. "I follow his routine of how he goes about breaking down opposing offenses."

In 2021, under Morris and Shula, the Rams owned the NFL’s ninth-ranked scoring defense and allowed just 18.75 points per game during a playoff run that included wins over Arizona, Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Cincinnati. 

Morris and the Falcons will look to play spoiler against Sean McVay's Rams, who need a win to remain in the hunt for the NFC West crown.