Rams Part Ways with Defensive Coordinator After Dismal Season

CHARLOTTE SHAO , ANABEL GNO Staff Writers

On Jan. 6, Sean McVay informed the 72-year-old Wade Phillips that his contract would not be renewed. McVay also fired running backs coach Skip Peete, a holdover from Jeff Fisher’s former staff. The decision not to retain Phillips was the first major move by McVay, since the Rams finished a disappointing season that saw them fall prey to the restlessness that has plagued so many teams this season after losing the Super Bowl.

 “I think that it is a horrible choice removing the two coaches from the staff,” junior Patricia Deng said. 

McVay and Phillips had built a strong partnership, with the experienced Phillips coaching defense and the younger McVay putting together a strong offense. Phillips’s defenses would earn the Rams 33 regular season victories, two NFC West titles and four playoff games in three seasons. 

However, with the recent season seeing the downfall of the Rams, Phillips will no longer be coaching. McVay has not given an official reason for firing Phillips. He expressed his gratitude for Phillips’s guidance in a brief statement. Philips also thanked the team on Twitter. He has expressed his wishes to continue coaching in football.