Aubrey

Pleasant

Pleasant has also interviewed for openings with the Browns and Cardinals, although the Cardinals have already opted to retain last year’s defensive coordinator. Pleasant first joined the Rams in 2023 as their DB coach and passing game coordinator, and has never held a title of defensive coordinator in college or the pros. Pleasant played a key role in helping the Rams’ defense finish in the top-10 in points allowed while also ranking 12th in yards per attempt allowed. He’s drawn enough attention this coaching cycle to suggest that even if he doesn’t land a coordinator role this offseason, one could be in store for him in the very near future.

It was reported last week that Pleasant was “a name of interest” for the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator vacancy. Now, the long-time coach will meet with both teams to discuss their job openings to see if there could be a fit with either team. Pleasant has never served as a defensive coordinator and has spent time with five different teams since entering the league in 2013. Pleasant was also interviewed by the Chargers earlier this offseason for their defensive coordinator opening but was passed over for Chris O’Leary.

Vasso also interviewed for the Titans DC job before it went to Gus Bradley. Breer adds Rams assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant is a possibility for the job. As one of the last teams to fill their head coaching vacancy, the Cardinals are going to be left trying to find up-and-comers for their coordinator positions.

Pleasant’s current stint with the Rams began in 2023, when they hired him as the defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator. He was promoted from the former role in 2024, though per the team’s website, he continued to work closely with the defensive backs last season. He previously coached cornerbacks for the Rams from 2017-2020.

Pleasant interviewed with the Bears earlier this offseason and has rebounded nicely after being let go by the Lions in the middle of the 2022 season. With Liam Coen’s Rams roots, it does make some sense that he’d be interested in the current Rams assistant head coach for Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator opening. Pleasant has also worked with the Packers and at Michigan in a coaching career that started in 2010.

Ben Johnson has not wasted time trying to put together his staff for the Bears. His first interview request for defensive coordinator is the Rams’ Aubrey Pleasant, who was named assistant head coach prior to the 2024 season. He has bounced around coaching staffs in the NFL, spending 2017-2020 with the Rams and re-joining them in 2023. Pleasant was a key piece in helping Rams DC Chris Shula build a formidable unit and now could join the Bears as defensive coordinator, a position he has yet to hold in his coaching career.

Pleasant was signed by the Rams as their defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator last offseason and is now going to add the title of assistant head coach to his resumé. Pleasant helped coach up a Rams defense that surprisingly ranked 19th in the league in points allowed and 20th in yards allowed. It wasn’t stellar, but for a defense that was expected to be among the worst in the league, it’s easy to say they outperformed expectations. Pleasant could find himself in contention for head coaching jobs next offseason with another solid year in 2024.

In desperate need of a change on the defensive side of the ball, the Lions opted to part ways with Pleasant on Monday. Detroit fell 31-27 to Miami in Week 8, blowing a 27-17 lead at halftime while allowing 382 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The Lions rank eighth in the league in points per game (24.7), but are dead last in points allowed per game (32.1) and are allowing the sixth-most passing yards per game (266.4). Safeties coach Brian Duker is expected to take over as the team’s defensive backs coach.

Pleasant is a quick-rising name in coaching circles. He’s already interviewed for the Vikings’ DC job under new coach-to-be Kevin O’Connell. In Detroit, Pleasant worked under DC Aaron Glenn, who came over from the Saints after working with then-DC Dennis Allen. Allen, of course, was just named New Orleans’ head coach. That’s the connection.

Pleasant just wrapped up his first season as Detroit’s secondary coach and pass-game coordinator. He and new Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell coached together with the Rams when Pleasant was Los Angeles’ CBs coach from 2017-2010. They also coached together in Washington.