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Lindsey ThiryESPN
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams are finalizing deals to hire Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator and Kevin O’Connell as offensive coordinator, sources tell ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Staley, who served last season as the Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach, replaces Wade Phillips, who earlier this week was informed that his contract would not be renewed.
O’Connell spent the past three seasons as an offensive assistant with the Washington Redskins and last season was promoted to offensive coordinator.
O’Connell, 34, fills a role that was vacated by Matt LaFleur after the 2017 season. Head coach Sean McVay has not employed a full-time offensive coordinator the past two seasons.
The Rams’ coaching staff has undergone significant changes since the end of an underwhelming season in which they finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs, less than a year after appearing in Super Bowl LIII.
Along with not renewing Phillips, McVay fired running backs coach Skip Peete and special teams coordinator John Fassel, whose contract also was expiring, departed for the same post with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Rams have not yet named a new running backs coach or special teams coordinator.
Staley, 37, inherits a defense that last season ranked ninth in defensive efficiency and returns star defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
It is expected that McVay will maintain his role as play-caller, but O’Connell will play a significant role in helping the Rams offense rebound from a lackluster season that saw a significant decline in their run-game efficiency.
O’Connell spent three years with the Redskins, with his role increasing each of the last two years. He went from quarterbacks coach in 2017 to passing game coordinator in 2018 and then to offensive coordinator this past season. But he was not the main play caller until after Jay Gruden was fired following an 0-5 start.
Under interim coach Bill Callahan, the Redskins wanted to be a run-heavy team limiting their ability to be diverse, especially on early downs. O’Connell also was tasked with trying to develop rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins. O’Connell spent extra time with Haskins and the two developed a strong bond. It paid off late as Haskins improved. In his last two starts Haskins completed a combined 31-of-43 passes for 394 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. And an offense that had sputtered most of the season scored a combined 62 points.
O’Connell had hoped to return as Washington’s offensive coordinator. He interviewed twice with new coach Ron Rivera but O’Connell wanted more say in his staff, a source said. Rivera ended up hiring Scott Turner as the offensive coordinator.
Information from ESPN’s John Keim was used in this report.