Los Angeles Rams

5 coaches Rams could replace Jeff Fisher with

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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On Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams announced a two-year contract extension for head coach Jeff Fisher. But there are five coaches that would be better fits.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher has found a way to survive a little bit longer. On Sunday, the team announced he has signed a two-year extension with the team. Ian Rappaport of NFL Network announced on Twitter that he actually agreed to the deal during the season, and signed it during the regular season.

But there are a number of individuals that could replace Fisher, who has struggled to keep the Rams in third place this year in the NFC West. He has had the reigns since 2012, but has failed to reach more than seven wins in any season since his hire. With that said, it would seem that five guys could replace him and help the Rams get back to a place they’ve not seen in over a decade.

5. Kyle Shanahan

The current offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons has certainly evolved as a coach since his days in Houston. In his ninth season as offensive coordinator for the Falcons, he’s had a lot of success helping out the offense. In fact, he’s led the offense to top ten rankings in several categories in six of those nine seasons.

He’s certainly had better luck over the last few years than his dad, Mike Shanahan, had during his head coaching days. With what he’s been able to do as offensive coordinator in Atlanta, he would be a viable option to take over the Rams. As a start, he could get them past a seven-win ceiling.

4. Jon Gruden

Now before you start laughing at the thought of Jon Gruden as head coach, he did have some monumental success while he was in charge. His best work was done while overseeing the Oakland Raiders. A team that is doing very well in 2016, is similar to what he did with them back in 1998 and 1999.

Gruden took a Raiders team that was struggling at the bottom of the AFC West, and watched them soar to the top of the division. They made the playoffs three consecutive years while he was with them. In 2000, they finished 12-4 en route to their best season in a decade.

After a 40-28 record during his tenure with the Raiders, he took his coaching resume to Tampa Bay to be the with the Buccaneers. Again, he took a struggling team and lifted them to a 12-4 season. His first year there, he led them to the promised land of becoming Super Bowl XXXVII champions. He took the Bucs to the playoffs in two other seasons, losing efforts against the Redskins and Giants in respective Wild Card games.

There was only one season in his seven years in Tampa that he finished lower than third place, and compiled a 57-55 record while there. Since his departure, he has gone on to become an analyst with ESPN. But luring him out of retirement could be what the Rams need to turn things around.

3. Mike Smith

Another coach that comes to mind is Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Mike Smith. He has previous head coaching experience, leading the Atlanta Falcons from 2008-2014. He was named AP NFL Coach of the Year in his first season, and named Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year on three separate occasions.

He was able to lead the Falcons to the playoffs four times in seven seasons, getting as far as the NFC Championship game in 2012, where they were eventually eliminated by the 49ers. He compiled a 66-46 record while in charge, and had five winning seasons. He has the track record for success, which has been proven in those seasons.

Now he serves as defensive coordinator for Tampa, where they are 6-5 entering play in Week 13. He could bring some positive experience and leadership to the Rams that they sorely need. Smith could be the most likely candidate to take over the role, if it were to be presented to him. At the least, he has the talent of moving guys where they need to be, and isn’t afraid to shake things up and take some risks.

2. Josh McDaniels

Up next on the list is Josh McDaniels, who is currently a part of a well-known machine known as the New England Patriots. He spent most of his early career with the Patriots, before taking a head coaching job with the Broncos. After two short seasons with the Broncos, he returned to New England, where he currently serves as offensive coordinator.

In his first season with the Broncos, he led them to six straight wins to open the 2009 year. He finished with an 8-8 season. His next season followed up with a 3-9 record, and was subsequently fired just before the end of the season.

A return to coaching could be what McDaniels needs. With a team that doesn’t have the high expectations that a team like the Broncos or Patriots, he could build his standing up and work on turning them around into a respectable organization. He had a lot to learn when he was with the Broncos, but wasn’t willing to listen.

He’s spent the last six years listening and waiting for his next opportunity. When that day comes, he will bring a good amount of experience, knowledge, and patience to his next opportunity as head coach. He will have a better run in his next gig.

1. Tom Coughlin

The most notable name on this list is former New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. His track record MORE than speaks for itself, serving 12 seasons in control of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.

He had held some form of coaching capacity in the NFL since 1984, minus a two-year stretch where he returned to college to be the head coach at Boston College. But no coach on this list will bring the tools that Coughlin is capable of bringing to the table.

Seven of those 12 years he spent in New York resulted in winning seasons. He recorded two Super Bowl victories, one in 2007 and the last in 2011. He never finished lower than third place in any of those seasons, achieving at least six wins in each year. His coaching style and history makes him one of the most respected head coaches in NFL history.

In terms of success, Coughlin would seem like the ultimate choice of available coaches in the NFL. Ian Rappaport of NFL Network noted that the Jacksonville Jaguars were interested in bringing him back to the organization as head coach. The only question is that at 70 years old, how interested he would be in putting the headset back on and leading another team.