Venturi has coached in the NFL for more than a quarter-century, with head coaching experience on the professional and collegiate levels. He joined the Rams in 2006 after 10 seasons in New Orleans.

Last season, Venturi helped first-year Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon, who led the team with 136 tackles (104 solo), the largest tackle output of his career.

In 1996, as the Saints’ linebackers coach, Venturi took over as interim head coach eight games into the season and was retained as linebackers coach in 1997, adding the duties of assistant head coach, which he would hold through the 2001 season. Venturi took over coaching the Saints’ defensive backs in 1998, as the New Orleans secondary scored five of a franchise-record nine defensive touchdowns.

Venturi tutored the Saints’ linebackers in 1999 before reuniting with the defensive backs from 2000-01 under current Rams’ defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

In 2002, New Orleans’ defense tied for third in the NFL with 38 takeaways. The Saints’ 2003 defense improved each week, as it gave up only 207 points over the last 12 games of the season (17.2 average), also allowing only 48 points in the final four games. In 2004, Venturi’s unit solidified in the season’s final four games allowing 15.3 points. The Saints’ 2005 defense ranked third in the league against the pass.

Venturi played quarterback and defensive back at Northwestern, where he earned a dual degree in physical education and history, later adding a master’s degree in education. His first coaching stop was at his alma mater in 1968. From 1973-76, he coached linebackers at Purdue, then coached defensive backs at Illinois in 1977. Rick returned to Northwestern in 1978, where, at 31, he was the youngest head coach in Big 10 history. He stayed with the Wildcats for three seasons before heading to the CFL.

Venturi’s first venture into the professional ranks as a coach came in 1981 when he joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Venturi broke into the NFL with the Baltimore Colts in 1982, staying with the club through their move to Indianapolis until 1993. He started with the Colts coaching linebackers and added defensive coordinator duties in 1984 and 1992-93. Venturi was defensive coordinator/linebackers before taking over as interim head coach for the final 11 games of the 1991 season.

From 1994-95, Venturi worked under Bill Belichick with the Cleveland Browns, first as secondary coach in 1994 and as defensive coordinator/linebackers in 1995.

Venturi’s father, the late Joe Venturi, is enshrined in the Illinois High School Football Coaches’ Hall of Fame. Venturi is a native of Taylorville, Ill., who enjoys riding motorcycles. He is married to Cheri with a daughter, Marin, and a son, Jason, a grandson, Aiden, and a granddaughter, Ava. The Venturis live in Chesterfield.