Why have Rams fired ST coach Chase Blackburn?

The Los Angeles Rams have parted company with special team coordinator Chase Blackburn after a run of costly missteps from the ST unit.

The news comes after the Rams lost pace in the race to top NFC West, slipping to second behind the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams suffered a chastening Thursday Night Football loss to the Seahawks earlier this week, with the special teams organization coming under intense scrutiny.

Seattle scored a punt return touchdown and Rams kicker Harrison Mevis missed a 48-yard field goal. That was the fourth Rams loss this season, the third which involved some sort of failure from the ST unit.

A 33-26 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles ended in frustrated for the Rams as the last two offensive possessions resulted in blocked kicks. Even the Week 10 win against the New Orleans Saints was marred by a missed 39-yard field goal from kicker Joshua Karty. Speaking after that game, head coach Sean McVay said that the special teams issues “can’t continue like this.”

In the short term, Blackburn will be replaced by his former assistant Ben Kotwica. That situation is only expected to last for the remainder of the season, with a new, long-term ST coordinator set to come in for the 2026 season.

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