Rams head coach Sean McVay informed his staff they were free to interview with other teams, an unprecedented move for an NFL coach under contract for the 2023 season.
While NFL teams can block lateral moves — jobs with the same or similar title and responsibilities with another team — the Rams are making a major concession.
ESPN reported McVay told coaches in a meeting his own future was not clear, and he wouldn’t block interview requests from other teams.
McVay shared his reluctance to commit to the Rams for 2023 in his season-ending press conference on Monday.
“Take the next couple of days, really be able to reflect and a lot of conversations that will dictate and determine the decision that’s best for me and my family,” McVay said Monday of when he would know his plans for next year.
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has multiple interviews lined up to become a head coach again, including the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.
Further, offensive coordinator Liam Coen made it official Tuesday, leaving the Rams to go back to Kentucky to be the Wildcats’ OC, a move that was expected to happen after the season. Coen was Kentucky’s OC in 2021 before leaving to join McVay in 2022.
McVay’s coaching tree is vast, especially when considering his age. He became the youngest coach to win the Super Bowl last February at age 36 — beating former assistant Zac Taylor and the Cincinnati Bengals for the Lombardi Trophy. Days later, McVay lost offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who was hired by the Minnesota Vikings.
Other former McVay assistants include Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley and University of Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch.
McVay was hired as head coach of the Rams in 2017 as a 30-year-old offensive wunderkind with NFL bloodlines. McVay said he considered not coaching in 2022 and reportedly was offered as much as $100 million over five years to join the Amazon Prime NFL broadcast team.
That, along with getting married and the death of his grandfather — John McVay — have all worn down the Rams’ coach, according to reports.
Los Angeles went 5-12 in 2022, a season marred by injuries to quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
–Field Level Media
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