While the coaching cycle has come and gone, teams are still making last-minute adjustments to their staff. The Los Angeles Rams are no different, announcing Thursday morning a new in-house promotion.
Longtime defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant was promoted to assistant head coach of the Rams, a role held recently by Jimmy Lake, Thomas Brown, and Joe Barry-all of whom became coordinators elsewhere quickly. Pleasant will still retain his duties as defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator.
#Rams defensive pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant is adding an assistant head coach title to his current role, source said, a promotion that coach Sean McVay announced to the team to big cheers this week. Pleasant is viewed as an HC candidate by the Rams and NFL office. pic.twitter.com/zCAz1oHHn6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 16, 2024
Pleasant was part of McVay's initial Rams staff in 2017 after spending four years as an assistant with McVay in Washington. Pleasant was Los Angeles's cornerbacks coach from 2017-20. During that span, Rams' cornerbacks ranked second in the NFL in interceptions (28) and led the NFL in interceptions returned for touchdowns with five. Pleasant also guided defensive back Jalen Ramsey to a First-Team AP All-Pro nod in 2020 and worked with cornerback Marcus Peters, who earned First-Team AP All-Pro honors in 2019. Pleasant was also instrumental in developing Rams cornerback Darious Williams, who joined the team in 2018 after originally signing as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Baltimore Ravens and re-signed with the team this offseason.
Pleasant spent a year in Detroit under Dan Campbell and in Green Bay with Matt LaFleur before rejoining the Rams in 2023. Pleasant is an immensely popular coach within the organization, holding the respect of players and fellow coaches, and was a finalist for the Rams' defensive coordinator job. Given the Rams' pipeline of coaches, it won't come as a surprise if Pleasant starts earning consideration for promotions across the league soon.
