Chris Beake enters his 27th season coaching in the NFL and his fourth with the Los Angeles Rams.
Under Beake's guidance in 2024, the Rams safeties finished first in defensive touchdowns (three), tied for third in interceptions (nine), and ninth in completion percentage (65.7%). The Rams also became the first team this century to have three different safeties record at least one defensive touchdown in the same season.
The Rams rookie safety duo, Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough, each recorded four interceptions, tied for the second-most among rookies and the sixth-most in the NFL. Kinchens recorded the longest interception returned for a touchdown in franchise history (103 yards). Additionally, safety Quentin Lake stepped into a larger role as a team captain and played 100 percent of the team's defensive snap through the first 17 weeks. His 111 tackles are the fifth-most by a defensive back in franchise history. Additionally, safety Kam Curl recorded a single-season career-high in passes defended (nine), tied for 14th-most in the NFL among safeties last season.
In 2023, Beake mentored former defensive back Jordan Fuller who was one of 11 players in the league to force six or more furnovers leading into the final game of the regular season. Beake also played a role in the development of Lake, who had a breakout season notching 53 tackles, one fumble recovery, five pass breakups, and six passes defended. Additionally, Beake mentored S John Johnson, who finished the season 18th among secondary defenders in passer rating against as the primary defender (35.4) to go along with his two interceptions on the season.
The Rams' inside linebackers had a productive season under Beake's guidance in 2022. In his first and only season with the team, former linebacker Bobby Wagner had a career year and finished three tackles short of setting the Rams' franchise record for tackles in a single season, which was set by James Laurinaitis (142) in 2011 and 2012. He was also Pro Football Focus' top-ranked linebacker in the regular season with a 90.7 grade. Wagner finished tied for 10th in tackles against the rush (84), 13th in tackles (140), tied for 20th in stops (51), and tied for 38th in tackles for loss (10).
Beake also played an instrumental role in the development of former linebacker Ernest Jones in 2022. He finished 35th in tackles (113), which was second on the team behind Wagner. With the elite play from both inside linebackers, the Rams rush defense was among the best in the NFL and only allowed two players to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark. The Rams were one of four teams to enter Week 17 without allowing a 100-yard rusher that season.
Beake spent nine years of his career in Denver working with the Broncos defense serving as pass game specialist (2021), defensive assistant (2019-20), defensive assistant/defensive line (2016-18), defensive assistant (2014-15) and defensive quality control (2013).
During Beake's nine seasons in Denver, the Broncos allowed the third-fewest total yards (327.4) and seventh-fewest points (21.8) in the league. The Broncos were also one of just two NFL teams to finish in the top eight against the run (seventh/106.4 ypg) and against the pass (second/221.0 ypg) during that span.
In his first year as defensive pass game specialist in 2021, Beake continued to push the Broncos secondary, working directly with safeties such as Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson. Opposing offenses were challenged in the pass game as the Broncos defense ranked fourth in opposing completion percentage (60.7%), fifth in passing touchdowns allowed (22), sixth in opponent passer rating (85.0) and eighth in passing yards allowed (3,652). As a collective unit, the Broncos defense made 13 interceptions for 221 return yards.
In 2020, Beake took on increased coaching responsibilities in the secondary, stepping into an elevated weekly and gameday role with several coaches missing time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Denver led the NFL in red zone defense (47.5%, 29-of-61) for the second consecutive season while outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and safety Justin Simmons were voted to their first Pro Bowls.
From 2013-20, the Broncos defense featured eight players who combined for 20 Pro Bowl selections, led by 2010's NFL All-Decade linebacker Von Miller, who led the NFL with 81.0 total sacks during that span. Beake worked extensively with the Broncos' outside linebackers in 2018 as Miller was selected to his seventh Pro Bowl and Chubb set the franchise rookie record for sacks (12.0).
In his two seasons (2011-12) with the Browns, Beake worked with one of the youngest offenses in the NFL, helping to develop a quarterback group that included draft choices Colt McCoy and Brandon Weeden.
Beake spent two seasons with Seattle, serving as the Seahawks' offensive quality control coach in 2008 and offensive assistant/assistant special teams coach in 2009. From 2004-06, he coached linebackers for the Atlanta Falcons, tutoring All-Pro Linebacker Keith Brooking, who earned the final two of his five career Pro Bowl selections in 2004 and 2005.
Beake started his NFL career with San Francisco in 1998 as a pro personnel assistant and spent the next five seasons with the 49ers coaching on both sides of the ball.
He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he played quarterback from 1990-92 and majored in civil engineering. He began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant for his alma mater in 1994. Beake served as a Civil Engineer Officer in the Air Force from 1995-98 while earning his master's degree in business administration from the University of West Florida.
Beake's father, John, was the general manager of the Denver Broncos from 1984-98, part of a 44-year career as a coach or administrator at the high school, college or pro levels. Chris and his wife, Andrea, have a son, Colin (18) and twin daughters, Madeline and Emilie (12). He was born on Sept. 10, 1972, in Kansas City
