Sean McVay Explains Rams Return vs. TV Jobs
For the second consecutive offseason, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay seemingly flirted with walking away from his post, in favor of a less hectic lifestyle that probably would have included a TV job.
And for the second consecutive offseason, McVay decided to return. He recently explained on Jay Glazer's mental health podcast "Unbreakable" why he ultimately came back for a seventh season as Rams coach, rather than taking a position in TV.
"Realizing that 'Who do you want to be?' and how much you love this job and how much you love the blessing that it provides to be able to positively pour into people," McVay said.
"And then you get the chance to work around a game that you've always been passionate about and that you love."
In terms of personnel, it may take some time for the Rams to retool. The "F them picks" mantra that general manager Les Snead utilized to help the Rams to win Super Bowl LVI was always going to come with a sizable bill to pay at the end.
There may be some light at the end of the tunnel in that regard, though, as the Rams drafted 14 players in this year's NFL Draft, and are slated to have a first-round pick in 2024 -- the first time since McVay has been the coach.
Sean McVay is entering his seventh season as coach of the Los Angeles Rams. (Kirby Lee/USA Today)
McVay also got to make changes to his staff, bringing in Mike LaFleur as offensive coordinator, one of nine new coaches for the Rams this season. Perhaps just feeling better about where the team is headed -- even if 2023 ends up being another lean year -- was all McVay needed to return.
"It was never that I didn't want to coach," McVay said. "It was more about I wanted to make sure that I could have an action plan that was in alignment with getting back [to being] that person that I want to be for the people that I do it for -- it's the players, it's the coaches. And being the leader that can positively elicit change, whether that be with people or situations you're a part of."
McVay was rumored as a candidate to be Al Michaels' color commentator on Amazon Prime Video's coverage of Thursday Night Football last offseason, and there was some thought he could replace Sean Payton in FOX's studio coverage this past offseason if he walked away from coaching. The 37-year-old, though, says he would prefer the challenge ahead of him in 2023.
"While there would have been maybe some other opportunities, it would have been a convenient excuse to just run away from the adversity that we had faced," McVay said. "And not addressing the things that needed to be addressed to be the person that I want to be for everybody that I really love and care about."
We'll see if McVay is signing the same tune next offseason if 2023 proves to be a disappointing season, and the futures of defensive tackle Aaron Donald, quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp are all uncertain.
