Steve Spagnuolo Steven Christopher Spagnuolo ( born December 21 , 1959 ) is the current head coach of the St . Louis Rams . He was previously the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants from January 2007 to January 2009 , and also served for eight years under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles . Early years . Born in the Whitinsville section of Northbridge , MA , Spagnuolo moved to Grafton as a youth . After graduating from Grafton ( MA ) High School , Spagnuolo played wide receiver at Springfield College . He assisted the University of Massachusetts football team while pursuing his graduate degree . Coaching career . Spagnuolo began his NFL coaching career in the Philadelphia Eagles organization in 1999 , serving as linebackers and defensive backs coach . He remained there for eight years , learning Jim Johnson ' s defensive philosophy . It was under Johnson that Spagnuolo cultivated his trademark look , Goatee and buzz cut . In January 2007 , he was hired as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants , under Head Coach Tom Coughlin . He spent two years in New York , and was the architect of the aggressive defensive strategy against the New England Patriots ( the highest scoring offensive team in NFL history ) in Super Bowl XLII , which was instrumental in the close victory by the Giants . Following the Super Bowl win and a great deal of praise , Spagnoulo ' s name was widely circulated for open head coach positions around the NFL . On February 7 , 2008 , he took his name out of consideration for the head coaching position of the Washington Redskins , citing the fact that he did not feel ready to be a head coach . People speculated that he did not like the fact that the coordinators were already installed , but he stated he had no problems with them . The same day , the New York Giants made Spagnuolo one of the highest - paid defensive coordinators in the NFL with a new three - year contract , worth roughly $ 2 million a year . St . Louis Rams . Following another successful season in 2008 , Spagnuolo ' s name came up as a replacement for numerous head coaching vacancies once again , including those for the Denver Broncos , New York Jets , and Detroit Lions , but Spagnuolo decided to join with the St . Louis Rams , taking over their head coaching vacancy with a 4 - year , $ 11 . 5 million contract . Spagnuolo has had very little success with the Rams with a 10 wins 33 loss record . Spagnuolo has hired Josh McDaniels and Ken Flajole to be the Rams ' offensive and defensive coordinators respectively . Coaching philosophy . Spagnuolo learned under Philadelphia coach Jim Johnson , and shares the same aggressive , blitz - heavy approach as his mentor . Spagnuolo uses a 4 – 3 base defense with a heavy emphasis on multiple blitz packages , including corner and safety blitzes . While defensive coordinator of the New York Giants , he often used a smaller defensive line , with three or even four defensive ends to further pressure the quarterback . This philosophy proved successful , with the Giants leading the NFL in sacks in 2007 . During Super Bowl XLII , Spagnuolo ' s defense sacked Tom Brady five times , the most times he had been sacked in any game that season . Coaching tree . NFL head coaches under whom Steve Spagnuolo has served : Assistant coaches under Steve Spagnuolo who became NFL head coaches :