Tag: aubrey pleasant

Jaguars interview Rams assistant Aubrey Pleasant for defensive coordinator job

Liam Coen and the Jaguars are eyeing Rams assistant Aubrey Pleasant for their defensive coordinator position

The Los Angeles Rams aren’t expected to lose any assistants to head coaching opportunities this offseason with only one opening left, but there’s still a chance some will leave to become coordinators elsewhere.

Aubrey Pleasant is one name to watch and he’s drawing interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags announced Tuesday that they’ve completed an interview with Pleasant for their defensive coordinator position on Liam Coen’s staff.

Coen and Pleasant were both on the Rams’ coaching staff from 2018-2020, so they know each other from their time in Los Angeles. Pleasant is currently the assistant head coach and passing game coordinator for the Rams after being the cornerbacks coach from 2017-2020.

Pleasant is a rising coach in the NFL and is a real candidate to become either a coordinator or head coach sometime soon. He got the chance to act as the Rams’ head coach during a preseason, an opportunity given to him by McVay last summer.

With Coen’s ties to the Rams, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he looks to bring in some of McVay’s other assistants as he builds out his staff.

Bears request to interview Rams assistant HC Aubrey Pleasant for defensive coordinator job

Rams assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant is drawing interest from Ben Johnson and the Bears

In his first days as head coach of the Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson has already requested to interview one of the Los Angeles Rams’ top assistants. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bears want to interview Rams assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant for their defensive coordinator vacancy.

Pleasant is also the Rams’ defensive backs coach and has been an invaluable part of the staff under Sean McVay.

Pleasant originally joined the Rams in 2017 as the cornerbacks coach, staying in Los Angeles until 2020. He became the Lions’ DBs coach and passing game coordinator in 2021 and stayed there for a year and a half before rejoining the Rams in 2023 in the same role he held with Detroit.

This past year, he was promoted to assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, while still coaching the DBs.

McVay gave Pleasant the opportunity to be the team’s head coach during the second preseason game against the Chargers, handling all the duties of a head coach on game day. He proved to be an excellent leader and continues to rise the ranks on the Rams’ staff, potentially becoming a defensive coordinator at some point in the near future.

Los Angeles interviewed Pleasant for its own defensive coordinator position last year before hiring Chris Shula to the position.

Aaron Rodgers sets record straight on his back-and-forth with a Rams coach during Sunday’s game

Aaron Rodgers explained his seemingly heated exchange with Aubrey Pleasant during Rams-Jets, and it wasn’t what it seemed

There was a moment during Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets when Aaron Rodgers appeared to get into it with a member of Sean McVay’s staff. In the second quarter, cameras caught Rodgers yelling and pointing to the Rams’ sideline, jawing with an assistant coach. Fans wondered what was being said during that back-and-forth, so Rodgers set the record straight during an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” Monday.

He explained what actually happened during the exchange, which was with assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant. It turns out, the two are friends and Pleasant was jabbing Rodgers about knowing his signals and checks from their brief time together with the Packers in 2022 when Green Bay brought him in after he was let go by the Lions.

“He loves ball, he’s friends with Matt (LaFleur) so Matt let him come hang out with us in the QB room and him and I became fast friends,” Rodgers explained. “I just really enjoyed having him in the room. Great perspective on what the defense is thinking about, how they game plan to players. He was on the sideline for them and there was some back-and-forth during some of the moments in the game. obviously, he was in the room (in Green Bay) and I was telling him not to tell any of the f’ing secrets and that I changed all the signals and a bunch of stuff. We were having a nice back-and-forth.”

Funny enough, there was a point a little bit later when Rodgers checked to a play that Pleasant specifically told him not to call. And Pleasant let Rodgers have it after that play, doing the exact signal from the sideline and poking fun at the Jets quarterback.

“A couple plays later, he was yelling at me about, ‘Don’t call’ this one check that we have. And a couple plays later, I really subtly got to it. We had gotten to a third-and-16 after a penalty and I threw it in the flat to (Davante Adams) and he’s right over there giving me the actual signal of the play, so it was a fun back-and-forth between the two of us.”

So it was really just two friends having a harmless exchange that goes back to their time together in Green Bay. No malice, no ill will. Just a couple of football guys having fun.

Pleasant wasn’t the only one giving Rodgers a hard time from the sideline, either. He says Sean McVay was making “funny faces” at him during the game.

“We’ve had dinner before in the offseasons, so Sean was making funny faces at me throughout the game, too,” Rodgers said. “So it was good. I know a lot of people on that staff. He’s younger than me so he’s got a real young sense of humor.”

Watch: Aubrey Pleasant was mic’d up as Rams’ head coach vs. Chargers

Aubrey Pleasant was mic’d up against the Chargers and it’s easy to see why everyone loves the Rams coach

Sean McVay watched Saturday’s preseason game between the Rams and Chargers from a different vantage point. He spent the night in the coach’s booth – with a brief stop in the broadcast booth, too – while Aubrey Pleasant assumed the role of head coach.

Pleasant, the Rams’ pass game coordinator and assistant head coach, took over head-coaching duties for a night, which was an awesome opportunity that he greatly appreciated. McVay is all about empowering his coaches and this gesture with Pleasant is just the latest example of that.

The Rams mic’d up Pleasant for the game and it’s incredibly easy to see why so many players and coaches love him. He coaches with a lot of passion and truly cares about his players, much like the way McVay does.

Before the game started, Pleasant went up to every assistant coach and told them how much he appreciates and loves them. During the game, he was upbeat and engaged, even after Stetson Bennett’s interception and Joshua Karty’s missed field goal.

He also made sure Jim Harbaugh knew how much he respects him, both before kickoff and after the final whistle.

Pleasant is viewed as a potential head-coaching candidate in 2025 and this opportunity will only help him prepare for any interviews he gets next offseason.

Watch: Sean McVay interrupts Aubrey Pleasant’s victory speech to give him a game ball

Aubrey Pleasant was the Rams’ head coach on Saturday and he was surprised with a game ball from Sean McVay after the win

Sean McVay is all about giving his assistant coaches opportunities, which is probably why they keep getting poached by other teams. Not only does he let coordinators call the offensive plays in the preseason, but on Saturday night, he handed over head-coaching duties to Aubrey Pleasant.

Pleasant, the team’s assistant head coach, wore the headset on the sideline and handled the role of head coach on Saturday against the Chargers while McVay was in the coach’s booth. It was a great opportunity for Pleasant, who could be a head-coaching candidate next offseason.

After the Rams’ 13-9 win over the Chargers, Pleasant gave a speech to the team in the locker room, telling his players that they have a chance to do something special this year. In the middle of his speech, McVay interrupted and tossed Pleasant a game ball, eliciting a huge roar from the team.

It was an awesome moment caught on video by the Rams, one worth checking out.

McVay has built a special culture in Los Angeles and Saturday was just the latest example of that with Pleasant taking over as the team’s head coach.

Former Wisconsin Badgers safety to debut as head coach for LA Rams on Saturday

Former Wisconsin Badgers safety gets a shot at head coach for LA Rams

The Los Angeles Rams will face the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday in their second preseason game of the year. News emerged this week that former Wisconsin Badgers safety Aubrey Pleasant will operate as the Rams’ head coach for the contest.

Head coach Sean McVay announced on Thursday that Pleasant, the team’s assistant head coach, will handle the role on game day. McVay plans to take a step back and even spend time in the broadcast booth.

Related: One breakout candidate for every Big Ten football team in 2024

Pleasant has spent a handful of years with the organization in two separate stints, serving as the team’s cornerbacks coach from 2017-2020 before returning last season as the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.

Prior to making the transition to coaching in 2010, Pleasant spent four seasons as a defensive back with Wisconsin (2005-2008). In his time with the Badgers, Pleasant racked up 80 tackles, including 2 sacks, across 40 games.

In recent years, the McVay coaching tree has produced some of the more promising young NFL head coaches: Matt LaFleur (Packers), Zac Taylor (Bengals) and Kevin O’Connell (Vikings).

Related: Wisconsin Badgers game-by-game picks entering 2024 from ESPN FPI matchup predictor

Pleasant looks to make the most of his opportunity Saturday. Who knows, maybe he’ll be the next assistant coach under McVay to land a job elsewhere down the road.

Aubrey Pleasant to be Rams’ head coach vs. Chargers with Sean McVay in booth

Sean McVay is going to be in the booth during Saturday’s game, handing off head-coaching duties to Aubrey Pleasant

The Los Angeles Rams’ sideline is going to look a little bit different on Saturday night when they face the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Rather than Sean McVay coaching the team, it’ll be assistant head coach/DBs coach Aubrey Pleasant taking his place.

McVay told reporters on Thursday that he will be in the booth for the game, while Pleasant will be the head coach. McVay likes to give his assistants opportunities to call the plays during the preseason, doing so in the past with Kevin O’Connell and Matt LaFleur. Both went on to become head coaches.

Pleasant is a candidate to be hired as a head coach in the upcoming cycle next year so this is a great chance for him to gain experience in that role, even if it’s just for one game.

Here’s what McVay said about Pleasant’s opportunity to be the head coach this weekend, joking that we’ll see if he throws the challenge flag at the right times.

“He’s earned this right and it’s more of just going through some of the mechanics,” McVay said. “Meeting with the officials, handling some of the different things as it relates to timeouts, being able to communicate with both sides. Again, these games we approach very differently, but I think to be able to get those reps for the leadership role that he plays for our team, but also to be able to get those chances. I remember when I got opportunities when I was in Washington. Those were really cool things that I look back on and I really appreciate in hindsight. Maybe I didn’t realize how beneficial and valuable they were. Like I’ve mentioned to you guys, he’s earned the right of assistant head coach because of the influence and the positive effect that he has on everyone in this building. I think it’s a great, earned opportunity and he’ll do an excellent job.”

Rams’ Aubrey Pleasant promoted to assistant head coach

Sean McVay added the all-important title of assistant head coach to Aubrey Pleasant’s role

The Los Angeles Rams brought back Aubrey Pleasant as their defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator before the 2023 season, a wise move by Sean McVay after losing Pleasant to the Detroit Lions for a couple of years.

He was an integral part of the coaching staff when McVay was first hired in 2017, coming aboard as the cornerbacks coach. His role has grown over the years and now he’s adding another title to his role: assistant head coach.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, McVay has named Pleasant his assistant head coach in addition to him remaining the DBs coach and pass game coordinator. That’s an all-important role and will only help Pleasant’s prospects of becoming a defensive coordinator or head coach in the near future.

Rapoport even notes that Pleasant is viewed as a head coaching candidate by the Rams and NFL office.

Recent coaches to hold the title of assistant head coach under McVay are Jimmy Lake, Thomas Brown and Joe Barry, all of whom went on to become coordinators elsewhere.

Rams to interview Aubrey Pleasant, Chris Shula for defensive coordinator job

The Rams are expected to interview assistant coaches Aubrey Pleasant and Chris Shula for their defensive coordinator position this week

In addition to four outside candidates, the Los Angeles Rams also plan to interview two of their own assistant coaches for the defensive coordinator position left vacant by Raheem Morris’ departure.

Defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant and pass rush coordinator/inside linebackers coach Chris Shula are both expected to interview for the job this week, according to The Athletic.

Pleasant has plenty of experience working alongside Sean McVay, spending three years together on Washington’s coaching staff from 2012-2014 and five years together with the Rams (2017-2020, 2023). He should be considered a top candidate for the Rams’ defensive coordinator job, although McVay has never promoted one of his own assistant coaches to defensive coordinator.

Shula has been with the Rams since 2017, starting out as the assistant LBs coach in 2017 before moving around the coaching staff over the last six years. Most recently, he was the team’s pass rush coordinator and inside linebackers coach, but he also has experience coaching outside linebackers and defensive backs.

With Pleasant and Shula, the Rams now have six candidates for the defensive coordinator job in Los Angeles. See the others here.

Cobie Durant shares his first impressions of Rams DBs coach Aubrey Pleasant

Cobie Durant shared his initial thoughts on Aubrey Pleasant, the DBs coach and passing game coordinator of the Rams.

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Besides having a new-look roster, the Los Angeles Rams shook things up with their coaching staff this offseason, including bringing back Aubrey Pleasant to coach the defensive backs. Entering his second year in the NFL, Cobie Durant spoke about his initial thoughts of Pleasant joining the coaching staff.

“He’s a great guy, man. I love how he coaches. It’s only my second year, it’s my first time ever really going through coaches,” Durant said Wednesday. “I went through a lot of coaches in college though but that’s kind of a different level. But just picking up back where we left off from last year and you know just really polishing up a little bit of the stuff that you know I had bad going on with my technique and things like that. But he’s a great coach, and holds accountability to us and to himself, too. So, you know, it’s great having him a part of this team.”

As a rookie in 2022, Durant got an opportunity to work with Jonathan Cooley, who was the defensive backs coach for the Rams. Cooley spent three years with the Rams before becoming the defensive backs coach of the Carolina Panthers earlier this offseason.

Despite Pleasant having to coach a group of young defensive backs, this isn’t his first time on Sean McVay’s staff. Pleasant was the Rams’ cornerbacks coach from 2017 to 2020 before spending time with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers in the past two seasons.

Given the current state of the secondary, Durant is — by default — one of the veterans at cornerback right now. When getting a chance to speak about his new coach, it’s clear that Durant is excited to work with Pleasant during the offseason and upcoming season.

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