Nate Landman proudly wears the Zimbabwean flag on his helmet to honor his birthplace, even though he spent much of his childhood in Danville, California, and hasn’t spent much time in Los Angeles.
However, for the former Falcons linebacker, who signed with the Rams on Tuesday, moving west feels like a “homecoming.”
“A lot of my high school friends relocated here for work,” Landman said Wednesday. “I’m excited to be back on the West Coast and reconnect with them. My parents are just a short flight away, and my siblings all live in California or Nevada.
“It’s a great opportunity for me and my family to spend more time together and embrace this new chapter.”
Landman also has some indirect familiarity with the Rams’ defensive system. Last offseason, several coaches, including then-Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and assistant Jimmy Lake, moved to Atlanta. Morris took over as the Falcons’ head coach and brought Lake along as defensive coordinator. Although Atlanta later fired Lake, the Rams rehired him as a senior defensive assistant.
The Rams’ recent success—making the playoffs six of the last eight years—also factored into Landman’s decision.
“For me, it was a combination of factors,” he said. “The Rams have a winning culture, and I’m a West Coast guy. Growing up in California, coming back home was an easy choice. Plus, I built a strong relationship with Jimmy Lake last year.
“All of that made it a simple decision. I’m just really excited to be here, grateful for the opportunity, and ready to get started.”
Although he acknowledges the Rams’ defense won’t be identical to Atlanta’s, Landman believes his experience under Morris and Lake gives him a head start.
“There will definitely be differences—every coach has their own style,” he said. “But having familiarity with the system, understanding how we approach offenses, and knowing some of the terminology will make the transition smoother.”
The Falcons had an opportunity to retain the 26-year-old Landman, who recorded 192 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles while starting 23 games over the past two seasons. However, they declined to tender him as a restricted free agent, allowing him to enter unrestricted free agency and ultimately sign with Los Angeles.
Landman, who grew up playing rugby before falling in love with football at age seven in Northern California, now continues his journey out West.
“Football is where I made all my friends and where my personality really comes out,” he said. “Off the field, I’m pretty calm, but once I step between the lines, my attitude shifts. It’s the perfect sport for me, and my passion for it has only grown.”
In 2023, Landman started 14 of 16 games, stepping in for injured Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen. The two were set to split reps in 2024, but injuries affected both. Landman finished the season with 81 tackles, no tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles across 13 appearances, including nine starts.
After entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Landman hopes to bring the same qualities that helped him earn a starting role in Atlanta to his new team in Los Angeles.
“Leadership is a big part of my game,” he said. “I’m vocal on the field, passionate about the sport, and love the physicality—especially as a middle linebacker, where you have to set the tone.
“My strengths are my physicality and leadership, and I’m excited to bring that to this defense to help us win games.”
Landman comes to Los Angeles with a career record of 22-29 and no playoff experience after the Falcons finished 7-10 in his first two seasons and 8-9 in his last. But he believes 2025 will be different, citing Rams head coach Sean McVay’s reputation and the team’s offseason moves.
“You can tell he connects with his players and brings out their best,” Landman said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I can tell the team is excited too. With the talent they’re adding, it’s going to be a special year.
“When you have a winning coach like McVay and the success he’s had, it’s exciting to join a team under that kind of leadership.”
Meanwhile, the Falcons, now led by new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich—who previously held the same role with the Jets—face a rebuilding challenge after finishing last season ranked 15th in run defense, 22nd in pass defense, 23rd in total defense, 23rd in scoring, and 31st in sacks.
Landman won’t be part of that transformation, but he may see it up close. The Rams are scheduled to play the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2025, making for another kind of homecoming.
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