Chris Shula: Is He Related to Don Shula? Rams, Dad, Wife and Grandfather

Chris Shula is a prominent NFL coach who has continued one of football’s most notable coaching families. He is currently the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator, and his family connection to legendary coach Don Shula is a major reason fans often search for his background.

Chris has spent most of his NFL coaching career with the Rams under head coach Sean McVay. His family history, however, goes well beyond Los Angeles. His father, David Shula, was also an NFL head coach, while his grandfather was Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula.

Is Chris Shula related to Don Shula?

Yes. Chris Shula is Don Shula’s grandson.

Chris is the son of David Shula, who served as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992 through 1996. Don Shula was therefore Chris’s grandfather on his father’s side.

The Shula family has an unusual place in NFL history because three generations have been involved in coaching at the professional level. Chris followed his father and grandfather into football coaching, although his path developed primarily on the defensive side of the game.

The family connection was part of Chris’s childhood. According to the Rams, he was present when his father and grandfather coached against each other in the famous 1994 matchup between the Bengals and Dolphins. It was the first NFL game in which a father and son served as opposing head coaches.

Who is Chris Shula’s dad?

Chris Shula’s father is David Shula, also known as Dave Shula.

David was an NFL coach and became the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1992. He remained in that position through the 1995 season. His coaching career made Chris’s childhood unusual because his father and grandfather were both NFL head coaches at the same time.

The Rams have highlighted how much Chris learned from watching his father and grandfather. He has also spoken about the pressure associated with carrying the Shula name while establishing his own coaching career.

Who is Chris Shula’s grandfather?

Chris Shula’s grandfather was Don Shula, one of the most accomplished coaches in NFL history.

Don Shula coached the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins during a career that made him the NFL’s winningest head coach by total victories. He also led the Dolphins during their historic perfect 1972 season.

Chris grew up around his grandfather’s football career and witnessed the relationship between Don and David firsthand. The Rams have described Don as an important influence on Chris’s understanding of coaching and leadership.

Chris Shula and the Rams

Chris Shula has been with the Los Angeles Rams since 2017. Before becoming defensive coordinator, he held several coaching positions on Sean McVay’s staff.

He initially joined the Rams as an assistant linebackers coach. He later coached outside linebackers, linebackers and defensive backs before moving into the defensive coordinator role.

The Rams promoted Shula to defensive coordinator in February 2024. He replaced Raheem Morris after Morris left Los Angeles to become the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach.

As of the 2026 Rams coaching staff, Shula remains the team’s defensive coordinator and is entering his third season in that position.

Chris Shula’s coaching career

Shula began his coaching career after playing linebacker at Miami University in Ohio from 2004 through 2008.

Interestingly, he was a college teammate of Sean McVay. The two later reunited professionally when McVay became the Rams’ head coach.

Before joining the Rams, Shula worked at several levels of football. His early coaching stops included Ball State and Indiana, followed by John Carroll University, where he served as defensive coordinator.

He then entered the NFL with the San Diego Chargers in 2015 as a defensive quality control coach.

Who is Chris Shula’s wife?

Chris Shula is married to Jennifer Shula.

According to the Rams, Chris and Jennifer married in 2021. The couple have a daughter named Avery.

Chris generally keeps his family life more private than his professional career, so publicly available information about his wife and children is limited.

Is Chris Shula Don Shula’s son?

No. Chris Shula is Don Shula’s grandson, not his son.

Chris’s father is David Shula. David was Don Shula’s son and became an NFL head coach himself. That means Chris represents the third generation of the Shula family to reach NFL coaching.

The Shula family’s NFL coaching legacy

The Shula name has been connected with NFL coaching for decades.

The Rams describe the Shulas as one of only two three-generation coaching families in NFL history.

Chris has acknowledged the importance of the family name while also emphasizing his desire to establish himself through his own work. Early in his career, he was reportedly hesitant to lead with his last name because he did not want people to assume that family connections alone earned him coaching opportunities.

Chris Shula’s connection to Sean McVay

Chris Shula and Sean McVay have known each other since their college days at Miami (Ohio).

Shula played linebacker while McVay played wide receiver, and they were teammates for four seasons. Their relationship later became an important part of the Rams’ coaching structure.

McVay hired Shula onto his original Rams staff in 2017. Shula eventually worked his way through multiple defensive coaching positions before receiving the opportunity to coordinate the entire defense.

Chris Shula FAQs

Is Chris Shula related to Don Shula?

Yes. Chris Shula is Don Shula’s grandson. His father is former Cincinnati Bengals head coach David Shula.

Who is Chris Shula’s dad?

Chris Shula’s father is David Shula, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992 to 1996.

Who is Chris Shula’s grandfather?

His grandfather is legendary NFL coach Don Shula, who coached the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Colts.

Who is Chris Shula’s wife?

Chris Shula is married to Jennifer Shula. They married in 2021 and have a daughter, Avery.

Is Chris Shula a Rams coach?

Yes. Chris Shula is the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator. He joined Sean McVay’s Rams staff in 2017 and became defensive coordinator in 2024.

How many generations of the Shula family coached in the NFL?

Three generations of the Shula family have been involved in NFL coaching: Don Shula, David Shula and Chris Shula.

Conclusion

Chris Shula’s football background is deeply connected to the Shula coaching legacy. He is the grandson of legendary coach Don Shula and the son of former Bengals head coach David Shula. However, Chris has built his own career through defensive coaching, eventually becoming the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator.

His marriage to Jennifer and his daughter Avery are also part of his family life, while his long professional relationship with Sean McVay has played an important role in his rise with the Rams.