Ram Digest

How Explosive Coaching Rumor Can Impact Rams' Assistants

The Los Angeles Rams have two head coaching candidates as coordinators, but there's an alleged interest in an NFL seat by a premier collegiate coach
Brock Vierra|
Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian walks out of the lockerroom prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian walks out of the lockerroom prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have two coordinators in Chris Shula and Mike LaFleur who are expected to be considered for head coaching jobs next season. While that time is still months off, there's been a report that another name is throwing their hat into the mix.

Russini on Sarkisian

The Athletic's Diana Russini reported that Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has explored potential NFL job openings.

Steve Sarkisian
Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts after beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs in overtime at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

"I’m told that representatives for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian have let NFL decision makers know that he would be interested in potential head coaching openings, including the Titans'," stated Russini.

Sarkisian on Russini's Report

After Texas' win over Mississippi State on Saturday, Sarkisian that Russini's report is completely false and that Russini was unprofessional for issuing that report.

"It really ... me off that one person can make a report that in turn, the entire media sports world runs with as factual to the point where my agency and my agents have to put a statement out that they never have done...," Sarkisian said. "I had to do that to protect my locker room and my team. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous. I thought it was completely unprofessional of that person to put that report out, and the fact that everybody ran with it is borderline embarrassing for the media. I respect what you guys do, I really do, and everybody else, but the fact that everybody ran that as truth is really embarrassing."

"I've got a small circle when I make decisions on what I do and what I don't do, and nobody would speak on my behalf without me knowing."

Sarkisian's representatives also put out a statement denying the report.

My Take

Russini is a pros pro and so is Sarkisian. Notice not once in his entire statement did Sarkisian ever outrightly deny interest in the NFL or reaffirm his commitment to Texas. He only spoke on the report.

Jim Schlossnagle
Jun 24, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle signals the umpire against the Tennessee Volunteers during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Sarkisian has been an OC in the NFL and he knows its a different animal and an animal he's not suited for. He's built for college, he's built for NIL. I see this as a trial balloon by Sarkisian to generate some noise about his name so Texas gives him a raise.

Steve Sarkisian
Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts to a replay on the video scoreboard during the second quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Right now, Sarkisian is the fifth-highest-paid head coach in college football, trailing the top man in Kirby Smart by about $1.2 million annually. With Dan Lanning's success at Oregon, as well as vacancies and expected vacancies at top programs expected to drive the annual price of coaches up, I see this as Sarkisian simply cashing in, even though he received a raise last season.

Thus, Rams' Chris Shula and Mike LaFleur shouldn't be affected at all.

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Brock Vierra
BROCK VIERRA

Brock Vierra, a UNLV graduate, is the Los Angeles Rams Beat Writer On Sports Illustrated. He also works as a college football reporter for our On Sports Illustrated team.