Sean McVay is staying present amid retirement rumors.
The Rams head coach had a cryptic response when he was asked about his future following the team’s 19-16 overtime loss to the Seahawks on Sunday.
“I’m not thinking about that right now,” McVay said in his press conference “… I’m right here right now and we’ll deal with that stuff at a later time.”
That came after the Rams finished 5-12 on the season, which marked McVay’s first losing record since the Rams hired him in 2017.
The defending Super Bowl champion Rams were riddled with injuries throughout the season, including wide receiver Cooper Kupp, defensive lineman Aaron Donald and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who dealt with multiple injuries.
McVay and the Rams are talking right now in an open dialogue about his future, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager said Sunday after speaking with the coach.
Rams Sean McVay looks on against the Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field in Seattle on Jan. 8, 2023. Getty ImagesWith the Rams facing a potential rebuild, McVay will reportedly take some time away to evaluate his future.
“I don’t think he’s gonna take a long time to make his decision,” Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer said Sunday. “There’s more people inside the building, when you talk to them, they’d be more surprised if he came back than if he left.”
McVay is under contract with the Rams through the 2026 season. If the 36-year-old coach were to step away, he would remain under contract to Los Angeles.
McVay has also been at the center of rumors that he will transition into a career in broadcasting.
On Friday, McVay said that while TV offers “are flattering,” he was focused on his job and hasn’t questioned whether he wants to keep coaching because of the Rams’ rough season.
Rams coach Sean McVay (r.) shakes hands with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll (l.) after their game in Seattle on Jan. 8, 2023. Getty Images“These are always going to be things that you kind of anticipate and expect that are gonna come up, because I haven’t run away from the fact that down the line, or you know, whenever that is, that’s something I’ve been interested in,” McVay said of handling the broadcasting speculation. “But… Want to be here right now, focus on that, and that’s where I’m at.”
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, McVay doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuild in Los Angeles.
“There’s a growing sense that he will [step down],” Florio said. “My understanding is it’s not because of burnout or he wants to get into TV. He won a Super Bowl and now he’s facing a multi-year rebuild that he just doesn’t want to be apart of.”
The Rams were officially eliminated from postseason contention in a 24-12 loss to the Packers on “Monday Night Football” on Dec. 19.
The defeat marked just the fourth time in history in which a defending Super Bowl champion has been eliminated from playoff contention with more than one week remaining in the season, according to NFL.com.
