One of the biggest storylines to follow this offseason is whether head coach Sean McVay will retire after leading the Los Angeles Rams to a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
The 36-year-old revealed after the big game that he is taking a wait-and-see approach on whether he will return next season and simply wants to live in the moment. However, McVay’s fiancé, Veronika Khomyn, has since clarified that her future husband plans to be back on the sidelines next season.
Potentially getting McVay back would be huge for a Rams coaching staff that has undergone some changes this month. Offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell was recently named the new head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and secondary coach and passing game coordinator Ejiro Evero became the new defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos.
The Rams will have some continuity on the other side of the ball as Raheem Morris is expected to return as defensive coordinator next year. The 45-year-old was the architect behind one of the better defenses in football last season and is a respected voice inside the locker room.
McVay praised Morris for being an excellent leader and his ability to get the most out of his players, via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated:
“I just think it speaks for itself,” McVay told me. “I mean, if you’re looking for a great leader, a great motivator, a great person to be able to inspire and be able to help guys reach their highest potential, bring people together, who also has a great feel for the schematics of the game, Raheem Morris is your guy.”
The 2021 NFL season was Morris’ first as Rams’ defensive coordinator after his predecessor, Brandon Staley, took the L.A. Chargers head coach job the previous offseason. Morris was interviewed by several teams for their head coach vacancies this offseason but ultimately wasn’t hired.
Prior to joining the Rams, Morris most notably served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach from 2009-11 and the Atlanta Falcons’ interim head coach in 2020. He also held roles with Hofstra, Cornell, Kansas State and Washington Redskins.
If McVay does decide to retire, Morris would be a natural for him this upcoming season. Should McVay stay as head coach, Morris presumably will receive more head coach opportunities in 2023.
