WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. -- The Rams did something they have not done in the Sean McVay era. They fired a coach in the middle of the season.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news that Los Angeles had fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn two days after the Rams 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
ESPN sources: Rams fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 20, 2025
The Rams’ special teams played a role in three of the team’s four losses this season, including Thursday night’s defeat in Seattle, and now changes are being made. pic.twitter.com/m6KVuQpMim
The crushing loss on Thursday Night Football allowed Seattle to overtake Los Angeles for first place in the NFC West as well as the NFC's No. 1 seed with just two weeks remaining in the regular season.
Special teams errors mounted throughout Los Angeles' collapse, including a missed 48-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Mevis and a pivotal punt-return touchdown in the fourth quarter that fueled Seattle’s comeback.
Despite Los Angeles' impressive 11-4 record, two losses have been directly tied to miscues on special teams. In the Rams first loss, Los Angeles had consecutive field goal kicks blocked in a 33-26 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, a game they led 26-7 in the third quarter.
The 42-year-old Blackburn was in his third season as Los Angeles' special teams coordinator after spending a season as the assistant special teams coach for the Tennessee Titans. The former New York Giants linebacker intercepted three-time MVP Tom Brady in Super Bowl 46, helping New York claim their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
Head coach Sean McVay provided detailed what went into the decision to make a change with the postseason just around the corner.
"It's as simple as it really boils down to we just thought this was best for the direction for our special teams," McVay said. "There have been some things that we have to be better in some critical moments."
Assistant special teams coach Ben Kotwica, in his first season with the team, will take over the special teams duties for the remainder of the season. McVay offered an explanation on how the special teams unit will improve under Kotwica.
"I think there are some things that we want to have reflected in our style of play and the way that we go about our overall approach that I think will be improved," McVay said.
Kotwica, 57, has 17 years of NFL experience, coaching for New York (Jets), Washington, Atlanta, Minnesota and Denver before joining McVay's staff in Los Angeles this season.
A move of this magnitude highlights the importance in correcting the special teams mistakes ahead of the playoffs. McVay took accountability for the team's lack of special teams success and how the in-season move can help the team as they prepare for a postseason run.
"I am responsible for this, I obviously didn't do a good enough job with my responsibilities as a head coach," McVay said. "I do think that this is an opportunity that gives us a chance to be able to use the last couple weeks and then leading into the playoffs to be able to establish some of the things that we want."
Eliminating special teams miscues and minimizing mistakes will give Los Angeles the foundation it needs to make a run to Super Bowl 60.