Rams Hire Wade Phillips as Defensive Coordinator

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Rams on Thursday announced the hiring of longtime NFL coach Wade Phillips as their defensive coordinator.

Phillips spent the past two seasons as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator, directing a defense that carried the Broncos to victory in Super Bowl 50.

"Wade has seen it all in our league, and I believe that his wealth of knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to our entire coaching staff and players,” Rams coach Sean McVay said.

"Our defense has been one of our core strengths and I expect it to continue to grow and thrive under Wade's leadership.”

Phillips was an NFL coach for 10 seasons before McVay was born on Jan. 24, 1986. Phillips began his NFL coaching career in 1976 as the Houston Oilers linebackers coach under his father, Bum.

The 69-year-old Phillips has 39 years of NFL coaching experience. He was the head coach of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys and interim coach of the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans after being defensive coordinator for all three teams.

Phillips was also defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, Bills and San Diego Chargers.

Phillips succeeds Gregg Williams as the Rams defensive coordinator. Williams' hiring as the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator was announced Jan. 8.

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of the L.A. Rams.