The Los Angeles Rams endured the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion after finishing 5-12 and failing to advance to the playoffs. As the team entered an important offseason, head coach Sean McVay initially was noncommittal on whether he would return for his seventh season.
However, the 36-year-old confirmed last week that he will return to the team in 2023. It was also reported the team will pick up Matthew Stafford’s option bonus, and the expectation is that Aaron Donald will be back as well.
In an interview with FOX’s Jay Glazer, McVay revealed he didn’t want to retire on a bad note and is returning to the Rams to help them get back on track:
In 1st comments since deciding to return to Rams Sean McVay tells me: “I wanted to take some time to really know I could restore and renew the passion and zest I need and after leaning on family and friends and taking time to reflect it became clear to me… (1/2)
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 14, 2023
More from McVay:
“I don’t want to run away from adversity I want to run through it.”
He is very at peace with his decision
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 14, 2023
Had McVay retired, there was speculation he would take a TV analyst job. Amazon reportedly offered him a lucrative contract last year, but he turned it down in favor of returning to the Rams.
Now that McVay is back in the fold, he will look to figure out his coaching staff for the 2023 season. There will be some turnover, as offensive coordinator Liam Coen left to go back to Kentucky, and Raheem Morris and Thomas Brown are interviewing for head coaching positions.
Former Jets OC Mike LaFleur expected to join Sean McVay’s Rams coaching staff
With the Rams in need of an OC, one possibility is Mike LaFleur, who held the same position for the New York Jets the past two seasons under head coach Robert Saleh.
Before that, LaFleur was a member of the San Francisco 49ers staff under Kyle Shanahan, working both as the team’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
