Former Washington head coach Jimmy Lake hired for unspecified role with LA Rams

Former Washington head coach Jimmy Lake has landed a new coaching gig, joining the Los Angeles Rams in an unspecified role, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Lake coached Washington during the 2020 Covid-shortened season and in 2021 before getting fired in November of that year.

After going 3-1 during the four game Covid season, Lake and Washington struggled in his second year, going 4-5. Lake was fired in mid-November of 2021 after shoving and striking a player on the sideline during a game.

He had been out of coaching in 2022, but now is set to return to the NFL. Lake coached defensive backs previously in the NFL, working with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions prior to joining the college coaching ranks in 2012.

The #Rams hired former University of Washington head coach Jimmy Lake to a spot on Sean McVay's staff, per sources.

Lake's title is TBD; he has mostly coached defensive backs, including with the Bucs and Lions from 2006-11 before returning to college.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 16, 2023

The Rams struggled in 2022 after winning the Super Bowl the previous year, but a healthier Matt Stafford and better offensive line injury luck should have the Rams back in the playoff hunt.

College football insider explains reasoning behind Todd Monken leaving Georgia

Another high-level SEC offensive coordinator is off to the NFL, with Todd Monken leaving Georgia in favor of the Baltimore Ravens. Monken will forever be thought of highly in Athens, helping win back-to-back national championships. With Stetson Bennett running the show, the Bulldogs were one of the country’s top offenses.

Even with all of the success, Monken still wanted to make the move back to the NFL. Seth Emerson of The Athletic explained the decision, citing the daily grind of a college job. Offensive game planning and development is just a fraction of the job description, having to recruit on a 24/7 basis.

Emerson made it sound like Monken was ready for a lighter load.

“Todd Monken, like any coaches that go NFL to college, discover they have a lot more on their plate in college,” Emerson said during an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show. “The recruiting and all other facets that come with it, make it a real 52-week job… The NFL, you got more off time. You can just coach. You have to do some draft evaluation… I think Todd Monken was ready to go back.”

When Monken joined Georgia in 2020, he had just finished a tenure with the Cleveland Browns. Nothing went well then, leaving him without an opportunity at the NFL level. Kirby Smart gave Monken the opportunity to build his resume back up.

“I think he was happy to be at Georgia, I think it helped burnish his reputation again after a year in Cleveland in 2019 — it didn’t end well there,” Emerson said. “So, he wasn’t getting NFL offensive coordinator nibbles at that point. But he did it at Georgia. He won two rings and I think he’s happy to go back to the NFL which is less of a grind.”