Sean McVay’s days with Rams could be numbered

Rams head coach Sean McVay is reportedly mulling a departure from Los Angeles after his first losing season as a head coach.

The Rams may have to look for a new coach this year.

Sean McVay is considering the possibility of stepping away from coaching, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Sources told Schefter that “McVay will take some time after Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks to determine whether he will return in 2023.”  Apparently, he “needs time to recharge and to determine whether he has the energy to continue coaching next season.”

Sean McVay could leave coaching for television

It’s surprising for a 36-year-old head coach to think about leaving an NFL job of his own accord, especially one who has had so much success at such a young age. However, it’s been a whirlwind year for McVay.

He won a Super Bowl but also went through an injury-filled and frustrating 5-11 season. He got married in June to a Ukranian immigrant, meaning the Russian invasion of that country hit close to home. His grandfather died in November.

All of those things come along with the inherent stresses of being a head coach. It’s not an easy job by any stretch.

We’ve seen football players choose to end their playing careers early over the rigors and risks of the job. McVay may simply be following that same path, knowing he can make a lucrative salary in television without the strain of coaching.

John Madden was 43 when he retired from the Raiders and enjoyed a long career in broadcasting. McVay is younger than most who follow that trajectory, but McVay was also the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl. He was already ahead of schedule.

Rams fans will have to wait and see. It’s possible McVay just needs time to breathe and rebuild some optimism about the 2023 season and beyond. It’s also possible he’ll follow through this time, forcing LA into a coaching search.