The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Mcvay gets to work on next year — and beyond
Sean Mcvay talked about his future Friday, hoping to put that topic in the past.
“I’m really committed to not having this become a story every year,” the Rams coach said.
Speaking with Los Angeles reporters for the first time since January, when he ended days of doubt by telling the team he’ll remain coach for a seventh season, Mcvay said his decision is good for more than 2023.
“When you’re making a commitment, you’re saying I’m committed to being the best coach I can possibly be not just for this next year but for a handful,” he said. “You don’t ever want to sit here and act like you can predict the future, but it’s not something that I’m looking at as a short-term type of decision.”
Mcvay and Rams general manager Les Snead signed contract extensions through 2026 following the Rams’ Super Bowl victory in February 2022.
Snead talked with reporters Thursday and sounded confident that Mcvay, who at 37 is still the youngest head coach in the NFL, has put thoughts of a TV commentary career on hold.
“I definitely think Sean’s taken the right steps, took a step back and definitely has an action plan,” Snead said. “I think when he sat down to determine whether, right, he wanted to coach or not in 2023, it was more than just 2023. It was for, let’s call it, a longer-term range.
“I don’t think you’re going to see Sean, each year, determine whether he wants to coach. I do think there’s a possibility where every year you might hear his name in television (job rumors) based on if there’s a job opening there.”
“But,” Snead said, “I don’t think you’re going to see Sean trying to determine whether he really wants to coach or not. He spent some time this year and figured that out.”
Snead and Mcvay spoke before the start of NFL free agency next week — negotiations with other teams’ free agents can start Monday, signings and trades can be announced Wednesday — as the Rams face unfamiliar challenges in trying to recover from a 5-12 season while having to trim salaries to get under the salary cap.
Friday, the Rams announced they released outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, a move that will save them $3 million against the cap in 2023, according to Overthecap.com, reducing the team’s cap deficit to $13.8 million, the website says.
Mcvay, speaking before that announcement, called the Rams futures of Floyd, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and wide receiver Allen Robinson – all objects of speculation — “fluid situations.”
He acknowledged “interest” in wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., who hasn’t played since injuring a knee in the Rams’ Super Bowl win, and Robert Woods, a free agent a year after the Rams traded him to the Buffalo Bills.
He echoed Snead in saying the Rams would try to improve mostly by developing young players around “core pieces” quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
“While there are going to be a lot of tough decisions, I don’t expect to not try to put together the most competitive roster that we (can) establish and develop,” Mcvay said.
Speaking via Zoom, Mcvay discussed his commitment to the Rams by talking about the “blessing” of being able to coach, “re-establishing a purpose,” showing “responsibility” to players and staff, and having “gratitude” to owner Stan Kroenke for giving him time in January to ponder his future.
Mcvay’s coaching staff has undergone its annual turnover. In addition to previously announced hirings of Mike Lafleur as offensive coordinator and Chase Blackburn as special teams coordinator — Raheem Morris remains defensive coordinator — Mcvay this week added former University of Washington coach Jimmy Lake with the title of assistant head coach, brought back Aubrey Pleasant as defensive-backs coach and pass-defense coordinator, and welcomed six other newcomers. Lake, who won’t have position coaching responsibility, replaces Thomas Brown, the assistant coach and tight ends coach who left to be offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.
Going into the first season of the rest of his life, Mcvay compared the vibe to his very first season as Rams coach, when he took over a team coming off a 4-12 year and wound up going 11-5.
“We know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” Mcvay said. “But I think it’s similar to, really, when we first got here in ‘17. We’re excited about rolling our sleeves up, getting to work and figuring out how we can be as competitive as possible. Let’s go!”