Eric Henderson's rapid rise up the coaching ranks continues. The Los Angeles Rams have hired the 36-year-old as the team's new defensive line coach, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Henderson made his NFL coaching debut in 2017 as assistant defensive line coach for the Los Angeles Chargers. He held the same position last year, coaching a group that included defensive ends Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Both players underperformed compared to expectations in 2018, though, combining for just 12.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits.

“Coach Henny,” as he's known, enjoyed a brief playing career in the NFL before transitioning to coaching. The former defensive end signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006 as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech, where he set a record with 59.5 tackles for loss and ranks fifth in school history with 25 sacks.

Henderson spent most of his first two NFL seasons on the Bengals' practice squad before playing in two games in 2008. He was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury on December 10th, 2008, ending his season and prompting his release from Cincinnati the following spring.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder went on to play three seasons with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League, helping them to a pair of championships during his stint with the club.

News of Henderson's move to the Rams comes as a bit of a surprise. Existing Los Angeles defensive line coach Bill Johnson has been lauded across the league for his work with the Rams' linemen, and there was no indication the team was looking to go in a different direction. With Henderson available, though, Los Angeles apparently thought the opportunity to poach him was too advantageous to pass up.