The moves unfolded after McVay dismissed special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn on Dec. 20 following the Week 11 loss to Seattle, then fired his replacement, Ben Kotwica, this week. Los Angeles quickly connected with a new target, and NFL sources, including Aaron Wilson, reported the Rams will hire Bubba Ventrone to take over the role, a development ESPN’s Sarah Barshop described as the team’s “secondary priority” addressed in succession.
Ventrone brings a 10-year playing career and has been a coach since 2015, with stops in New England and Indianapolis before his recent stint with Cleveland as special teams coordinator. The Browns highlighted several franchise records under his watch, particularly with kickers and punters, and noted three blocked field goals in 2023. Yet the 2025 season showcased some mounting challenges, as Cleveland’s units posted middling metrics: they averaged the eighth-fewest yards per punt return and the second-fewest per kickoff return, were 10th in field goal percentage and 20th in extra points, and allowed the ninth-lowest kickoff average, while opponents yielded the most punt return yards.
Reaction among Browns fans was pointed, with some critics arguing that losses were tied to the special teams unit under Ventrone. Social media responses included expressions of sympathy for Rams supporters and cautionary notes about the move, citing recent Browns missteps and specific blowups such as a Week 10 99-yard kickoff return and a 74-yard punt return in that game.
McVay has taken responsibility for last season’s special-teams struggles, and the Rams’ midseason changes to kicking and long snapping produced some improvement. The hire of Ventrone signals a decisive step to stabilize a unit that has long been a priority for the Rams heading into the upcoming offseason, with the team hoping his leadership delivers more reliable results beyond 2025.
