Giff Smith enters his third season as the run game coordinator and defensive line coach for the Los Angeles Rams.
Under Smith's leadership, the Rams' ranked 12th in run defense in 2025, allowing 110.8 yards per game. They also tied for seventh in sacks (47) and fifth in pressure rate (38.0%).
Smith has coached 14 seasons in the NFL and spent eight with the Los Angeles Chargers (2016-23) before joining the Rams. He has helped five players earn a combined 11 Pro Bowl selections during his time in the NFL coaching ranks.
In his first season with the Rams, Smith mentored a unit that finished fourth in hurries (198), tied for seventh in pressures (267), 11th in tackles for loss (56) and 14th in sacks (33.0). DE Kobie Turner built on a stellar rookie campaign and set single-season career-highs in tackles for loss (10) and passes defended (four). He also totaled 8.0 sacks and became just the second player in franchise history to record at least 10.0 sacks in his first 10 career games, joining Aaron Donald. Turner's 17.0 sacks are the second-most by a player in their first two seasons in franchise history, trailing Donald's 20.0.
Rookie DE Braden Fiske also tallied 8.5 sacks on the year, the most among rookies last season and the third-most in franchise history. His three multi-sack games last season were the most by a rookie in franchise history. Fiske also recorded the most hurries (40) and tied for the second-most pressures (51) among interior defensive linemen in their rookie season. Fiske and OLB Jared Verse became the first two rookies in franchise history to record at least 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in their rookie seasons. Both players were finalists for the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
During his time with the Chargers, Smith coached the defensive line for the first six seasons (2016-21) before switching to outside linebackers (2022-23). Smith also served as the Chargers' interim head coach to close out the 2023 season. Smith coached Chargers OLB Khalil Mack and guided him to consecutive Pro Bowl seasons from 2022-23.
In 2023, Smith helped the Chargers defense finish 13th in yards per rush (4.1) and red zone efficiency (52.9%). Smith's group also helped the Chargers finish 12th in hurries (225) and tie for seventh in sacks (48.0). Mack finished sixth in pressures (88), fourth in sacks (17.0) and sixth in hurries (59).
He also mentored OLB Joey Bosa, who he coached on the defensive line from 2016-20 when Bosa played defensive end. During that span, Bosa was selected to three of his four Pro Bowl appearances and earned 2016 Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as First-Team All-Pro recognition from Sporting News in back-to-back seasons in 2019-20. Smith coached the defensive line in 2021 and helped his unit transition from a 4-3 base front to a 3-4 base front.
Over his first five seasons with the Chargers, Smith guided Bosa and Defensive End Melvin Ingram III to three Pro Bowls each. During his time under Smith's tutelage, Bosa set an NFL record with 19.0 sacks in his first 20 games. Smith was part of a staff that helped the defense finish in the top-10 in total defense three straight seasons (2018-20). In 2020, Smith coached four defensive linemen who recorded multiple sacks on the year, while Bosa ranked second in the AFC with 15 tackles for loss.
The year prior, Smith was part of a defensive staff that led the sixth-ranked total defense and the league's fifth-ranked pass defense. It was the fourth time in 20 years the Chargers had a top-five passing defense. In 2018, Smith helped the Chargers defense finish ninth in total defense, rushing defense, and passing defense. It was the first Chargers unit to finish in the top-10 in total defense since 2014 and the highest-ranked rushing defense since 2012.
Smith helped the duo of Bosa and Ingram become one of the most dynamic tandems in the NFL, combining for 23.0 sacks in 2017 and leading the league in pressures. Additionally, the defensive unit finished fifth in the NFL with 43.0 sacks on the season, with the defensive line recording 36.0. That group also helped the Chargers finish first in red zone defense and rank third in pass defense.
In his first season with the Chargers, Smith's defensive line contributed to the team's 10th-ranked rush defense. They held nine opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground and recorded the NFL's second-highest percentage of tackles for loss. Bosa captured NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after leading all rookies with a team-high 10.5 sacks despite playing in just 12 games.
Prior to joining the Chargers, Smith spent two years coaching the defensive line for the Tennesee Titans (2014-15). He helped the Titans defense implement a 3-4 scheme and DL Jurrell Casey post a career-high 13 tackles for loss in 2014. In 2015, the Titans defense finished 12th in the league with 39.0 sacks and Casey was voted to his first Pro Bowl.
Smith joined the NFL coaching ranks in 2010 and spent three seasons as the defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills (2010-12). During that span, Bills DL Kyle Williams was selected to the first two Pro Bowls of his career and Mario Williams recorded a 10.5-sack season.
He spent time coaching at the collegiate level before entering into the NFL. From 2004-09, Smith coached the defensive line at Georgia Tech and added recruiting coordinator duties in 2006. In 2007, the Yellow Jackets led the nation in sacks (47.0) and also ranked second in tackles for loss. Under Smith's guidance, DT Joe Anoa'i earned a First-Team All-ACC selection following the 2006 campaign before spending time in the CFL and joining the WWE. Additionally, three defensive linemen who played under Smith at Georgia Tech went on to play in the NFL such as Michael Johnson, Vance Walker and Derrick Morgan.
Before his stint at Georgia Tech, he led the defensive line at Tulane (1999-03) after spending three years coaching wide receivers and the secondary at his alma mater, Georgia Southern (1996-98).
Smith began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas (1991-93) and Georgia (1994-95).
He was a three-time All-America defensive end at Georgia Southern, where he was a team captain as a senior and was part of three NCAA I-AA national titles teams (1986, 1989-90). He was inducted into the Georgia Southern Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
A native of Mableton, GA, Smith and his wife Jennifer have two children, Ava and Sam.
