Packers man join Los Angeles Rams

Aubrey Pleasant was fired as the Detroit Lions’ passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2022, but it didn’t take long for him to find work. Almost immediately, the former Wisconsin Badger safety was added to the Green Bay Packers’ coaching staff. Pleasant had not only worked with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur while with the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins, but Pleasant also coached with then-defensive coordinator Joe Barry at both stops.

Officially, Pleasant was added to Green Bay’s coaching staff as an offensive consultant, an analyst position where he attempted to reverse engineer opposing teams’ defenses for the Packers. After a half-season on the job, he was hired by Sean McVay again, this time with the title of defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator.

On Thursday, Ian Rapoport broke the news that the Rams added another line to Pleasant’s role: “assistant head coach.” With Raheem Morris leaving Los Angeles to be the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach this offseason, Pleasant — who had previously interviewed to become the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings in recent seasons — was one of two internal options that the Rams interviewed for their opening. The job ultimately went to Chris Shula, a former linebackers coach for Los Angeles, but the assistant head coach title should help Pleasant moving forward.

Per Rapoport, the Rams believe that Pleasant will one day be a head coaching candidate. McVay has been vocal about his coaches’ potential before, notably claiming that Morris should receive another head coaching opportunity after the two spent time together in Los Angeles.