Rams Coach Poached by USC After Wild Card Loss

The Los Angeles Rams could have multiple coaching positions to fill this offseason, especially defensively. As the rumors of defensive coordinator Raheem Morris being a top head coaching candidate swirling around the league, the Rams lost an important member of their coaching staff.

Eric Henderson, who has been the Rams' defensive line coach since 2019, was just announced as the co-defensive coordinator at the University of Southern California.

Rams News: Eric Henderson Could Be First of Many Coach Departures

Henderson, who also had run game coordinator duties since 2021, will continue to have that as part of his role under USC's new defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn.

This is the fourth prominent hire by USC to address their defensive struggles that were the main culprit of their disappointing 8-5 season. Despite having an explosive offense, the Trojans gave up a disastrous 432.8 yards per game under coordinator Alex Grinch, who was justifiably fired mid-season.

Hiring Henderson makes a lot of sense for a program that desperately needs defensive improvement. The 41-year-old coach not only has the experience of working with one of the best linemen of all time in Aaron Donald, but he also helped develop one of the best young defensive players in the league last year in Kobie Turner.

Henderson's Super Bowl-winning experience and his reputation as developing one of the best run defenses and pressure teams in the NFL will be very helpful to the Trojans and Lincoln Riley's staff.

Henderson's departure could be the first of many to follow. How the Rams will choose to replace these losses remains to be seen.

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