While the NFL world gets ready to enter another slate of games, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is getting ready for something else to enter the world.
McVay and his wife, Veronika Khomyn, are expecting the birth of their son to come “any day now,” he said at his press conference on Friday. Depending on when the baby actually arrives, it could impact if he will be coaching from the sidelines on Sunday in the Rams’ Week 6 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
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Is Sean McVay Coaching Today?
UPDATE: It looks as if Sean McVay WILL be ready to go for today.
FOX: #Rams coach Sean McVay (Upcoming Birth Of Child) is Active today against the #Cardinals https://t.co/f8rGpN0qkn pic.twitter.com/rUeTNU9hz2
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 15, 2023
The Rams are set to play their division rival Arizona Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET. Despite that, the pregnancy situation is a fluid one that could change at any moment, and McVay acknowledges that reality.
MORE: 2023 NFL Games Today/Schedule
“Really feel fortunate that it’s been a smooth pregnancy, my wife has been incredible and, so, it hasn’t quite hit me yet,” the 37-year-old McVay said. “He’s active right now, it seems like he’s ready to come at any moment. What a blessing that will be.”
Who Would Step in If McVay Is Unavailable?
Much like McVay’s availability is unknown right now, his fill-in is also a mystery at this time. Looking at the Rams’ coaching staff, there is a ton of NFL history and worthy options to sort through if this plan would need to be executed.
The first of which would be former NFL head coach and coaching veteran Raheem Morris. Morris has been with the team as its defensive coordinator since 2021 and has head coaching experience on his résumé. Morris was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011.
In addition to being a head coach, Morris also has experience jumping into a situation on short notice — he has a 4-7 record as an interim head coach with the Falcons in 2020 prior to joining McVay’s staff.
If McVay decided to go in a different direction, he may opt to look at the offensive side of the ball and call upon Mike LaFleur. LaFleur is in his first season with the team after spending the previous two in the same role for the New York Jets. LaFleur is the younger brother of Matt, the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
No matter what happens this week, McVay looks to be a father for the first time, and the Rams will be in good hands either way. This is just another case of life coming before football.
