The Los Angeles Rams, after special teams miscues proved costly in the overtime loss Thursday at Seattle, have fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn, according to multiple media reports on Saturday.
Blackburn, in his third season with the Rams, is the first in-season coaching change in head coach Sean McVay’s nine seasons in Los Angeles.
The Rams fell to 11-4 and out of the current top seed in the NFC with the 38-37 defeat to the Seahawks (12-3), who also now lead the NFC West.
Los Angeles was hampered by allowing Rashid Shaheed’s 58-yard punt return for a Seattle touchdown; kicker Harrison Mevis missing a 48-yard field-goal attempt late in the fourth quarter that would have given the Rams the lead; and a false start on another field-goal attempt.
The Rams’ website no longer included Blackburn, 42, on Saturday night. Assistant special teams coach Ben Kotwica, who joined the staff this season, is the choice to oversee the unit going forward, per the reports.
The 51-year-old Kotwica has coached in the NFL for 17 years and was special teams coordinator for the New York Jets (2013), Washington (2014-18), Atlanta Falcons (2019-20) and Denver Broncos (2023-24).
Special teams mistakes also were costly in the Rams’ 33-26 loss on Sept. 21 to the Philadelphia Eagles, who blocked kicks on Los Angeles’ last two possessions — returning the last for a touchdown on the final play.
The San Francisco 49ers blocked an extra point in the fourth quarter and beat the Rams in overtime in Week 5.
Los Angeles already made changes to the roster, replacing kicker Joshua Karty with Mevis and long snapper Alex Ward with Jake McQuaide.
Blackburn played linebacker in the NFL for 10 seasons for the New York Giants (2005-12) and Carolina Panthers (2013-14). He had 372 career tackles, four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 4.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in 132 regular-season games (45 starts).
He won Super Bowl championships with the Giants in the 2007 and 2011 seasons.
