Ever since the former defending Super Bowl champion Rams ended 2022 with disappointment, Sean McVay’s time in Los Angeles has seemed tenuous. Per an ESPN report near the end of the regular season, McVay’s future is “in limbo” as the 36-year-old apparently wants little part of what may be a challenging rebuild ahead for the Rams.
On Tuesday, McVay added further credence to those rumors with a curious staffing decision. According to an update from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, McVay is letting his coaching staff seek other opportunities on new teams, should they choose. Suffice it to say, while the phenom coach hasn’t decided anything definitive that is not the route someone who is planning to keep working on an NFL sideline would take:
#Rams coach Sean McVay, whose future is in limbo, has permitted his coaching staff to search for other jobs without resistance, per sources. McVay said in a staff meeting that he doesn’t know what he will do next year and won’t block those who want to explore opportunities
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 10, 2023
Yeah, seriously, no part of that updated report makes McVay sound like someone who is enthusiastic to keep coaching professional football. If he’s willing to part ways with his colleagues now, this paints the picture of a man ready to take indefinite time away from the NFL. Perhaps he could take a television role, where he’d probably be dynamite as a color commentator.
Or McVay might even retire outright. If he does, his last game as Rams head coach will have been a controversial defeat to the rival Seahawks.
Whatever path McVay does choose in the coming days and weeks, he could leave behind a shaky roster situation, albeit one with some of the sport’s truly elite players like Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp. Nothing is set in stone yet, but one of the league’s premier offensive minds might be leaving the Rams’ table behind for someone else soon enough.
NFL fans connected the dots about a McVay retirement after news of his staffing decision came to light
McVay has a gazillion dollars waiting for him in TV and he won't have to work absurd hours anymore.
He got his ring, he's great on camera, and he's only 36.
"Retirement" would indeed be tempting. https://t.co/5qrIO4Cper
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 10, 2023
He's done. https://t.co/UInM1d60Gy
— Reggie Wilson (@ReggieWilsonTV) January 10, 2023
Sounds like he knows exactly what he is going to be doing https://t.co/Loh07G2PQr
— 500 🏎 (@Kameron_Hay) January 10, 2023
Bring him home https://t.co/NyyBn1Cpvb pic.twitter.com/bJmqb9diui
— Nathan Bishop (@nathan_h_b) January 10, 2023
Sean, please take as much time off as you’d like. You deserve it. https://t.co/j09uF52kcq
— Brandon (@PHXCards11) January 10, 2023
Okay yeah he's gone https://t.co/xJ7mnXhS4s
— Drew Magary (@drewmagary) January 10, 2023
Oh. He’s gone. https://t.co/0RjtBFcAOc
— Jeremiah Martinez (@TheJerryMartin) January 10, 2023
Les Snead when he walks into the building next week https://t.co/svv4hRxu0T pic.twitter.com/dfUEto7puJ
— Gridiron Gentlemen (@GridironGents) January 10, 2023
That would seem to me like a telltale sign where he's leaning… https://t.co/sxWjqmA2ld
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) January 10, 2023
McVay couldn't keep going after getting swept by Carroll https://t.co/jYyhw8zj8Y
— John P Gilbert (@JohnPGilbertNFL) January 10, 2023
