| Los Angeles Rams | |
|---|---|
| Title | Defensive line coach/run game coordinator |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1968-10-12)October 12, 1968 (age 57) Mableton, Georgia, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College | Georgia Southern |
| Position | Defensive end |
| Career history | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season | 0–3 (.000) |
| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Giff Smith (born October 12, 1968) is an Americanfootball coach who is thedefensive line coach and run game coordinator for theLos Angeles Rams of theNational Football League (NFL). He previously served as the interim head coach for the 2023 season with theLos Angeles Chargers. He was also an assistant coach for theTennessee Titans andBuffalo Bills.
A native ofMableton, Georgia, Smith played defensive end atGeorgia Southern University and was a three-time All-American.[1]
Smith began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at theUniversity of Arkansas in 1991.[2] He would then serve as a graduate assistant at theUniversity of Georgia from 1994 to 1995.[3]
In 1996, Smith was hired as the wide receivers coach atGeorgia Southern University.[4]
In 1999, Smith was hired as the defensive line coach atTulane University.[5]
In 2004, Smith was hired as the defensive line coach atGeorgia Tech.[6]
In 2010, Smith was hired by theBuffalo Bills as their defensive line coach under head coachChan Gailey.[7] During his time there, Smith is credited with helping with the emergence ofKyle Williams.[8]
He was dismissed, along with the entire Bills coaching staff, on December 31, 2012.[9]
In 2014, Smith was hired by theTennessee Titans as their defensive line coach under head coachKen Whisenhunt.[10]
In 2016, Smith was hired by theSan Diego Chargers as their defensive line coach under head coachMike McCoy.[11]
In 2017, Smith was retained by theLos Angeles Chargers under head coachAnthony Lynn.[12] In 2022, Smith was promoted to outside linebackers coach under head coachBrandon Staley.[13]
On December 15, 2023, Smith was named the interim head coach following the firing of head coachBrandon Staley.[14][15] On December 23, 2023, Smith made his head coaching debut against theBuffalo Bills but the Chargers were defeated 22–24 although they surprised the Bills with a 10–0 and 22–21 lead with under a minute left.[16]
In 2024, Smith was hired by theLos Angeles Rams as their defensive line coach.[17]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| LAC* | 2023 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 4th in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |||
*Interim head coach
Smith and his wife, Jennifer, have two children: Ava and Sam Smith. Ava attends Southern Methodist University and Sam plays football at JSerra Catholic High School.[18]