The Los Angeles Rams are adding to their coaching staff this offseason. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Rams are set to hire Tennessee defensive backs coach Michael Hunter to the same role. That role was previously held by Aubrey Pleasant who was moved to passing game coordinator last offseason Pleasant has interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals for their open defensive coordinator role to join Mike LaFleur. If the Rams are hiring Hunter, the expectation may be that Pleasant is set to join the Cardinals.
Hunter was set to join Tennessee this season before being hired by the Rams. In 2024 and 2025, he was the defensive backs coach for Ohio State. With the Buckeyes, Hunter was part of a unit that led the nation in pass defense. That unit was nearly 25 yards better than the next closest Power Four program.
An intriguing aspect of the Rams hiring Hunter is that they have two first round picks and Hunter should be familiar with several of the players that Los Angeles could be interested in. Last season, Hunter would have coached Caleb Downs as the assistant defensive backs coach. While he didn’t coach at Tennessee as he was set to join the staff, Hunter may at least have some familiarity with Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy having coached at the college level. Ohio State cornerbacks Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. could be names to watch as well during the NFL Draft in the mid-rounds.
If there is one area in which the Rams need to improve this offseason, it will be in the secondary, especially at cornerback. It’s no surprise to see McVay delve into the college ranks with this type of hire and Hunter seems to be a rising coach. Hunter also played for four seasons in the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent as a cornerback by the New York Giants in 2016 and had stints with the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs.
