We’re used to seeing certain sagas repeat themselves over several offseasons, such as whether Aaron Rodgers will retire or if Jim Harbaugh will return to the NFL. After the Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl 56 last year, head coach Sean McVay appeared ready to walk away from the franchise despite his incredible early-career success. After a frustrating 5-12 season in 2022, he’s again contemplating his future.
Will Sean McVay Retire in 2023?
The 36-year-old became the youngest head coach in NFL history when he was hired, and he’s quickly amassed an impressive coaching tree. Teams often cite McVay’s creative offensive approach and wunderkind abilities when they interview younger candidates. His twist on Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking run game and inclusion of vertical passing concepts out of 11 personnel have greatly influenced the NFL’s offensive shift over recent years.
And yet, we’re asking whether McVay will retire in 2023. Even if it’s temporary, this massive decision will affect more than just the Rams. We’re going to break it all down.
There’s a very real chance we’ve seen the last of McVay on an NFL sideline for some time. Though he rebuffed Amazon’s overtures for as much as $100 million last offseason, this decision is clearly not about the money for McVay. He offered insight into his thought process in a press conference the Monday following their season finale.
The burnout of being an NFL coach and player is normal for everyone to feel immediately after the season ends. McVay said he’s considered walking away several times over the last few years, a sign that he may not have a healthy, sustainable process throughout the season to keep fresh. However, he also said he doesn’t feel he’s done coaching for good and that retirement could be temporary.
The Rams’ Historically Bad 2023 Campaign
This season was especially difficult for a coach who is very hands-on with his team. They lost quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp for eight games, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald for six. Their season effectively was over by Week 10, and they stumbled to the worst record in NFL history for a defending Super Bowl champion.
McVay only returned in 2023 when he knew Stafford and Donald would be back. Though Stafford’s neck injury isn’t severe enough to force him to retire, McVay saw life with a razor-thin, top-heavy roster was impossible to win with if his stars weren’t available. Considering the nature of Stafford’s and Kupp’s injuries, plus Jalen Ramsey needing another shoulder surgery, McVay may see the end of this core is close to being over.
That’d be a difficult pill to come back to since the Rams have very little ability to improve their roster for 2023. The only way they can open cap space is to restructure the massive deals for those same veterans. They’re stuck with an aging, expensive core through 2023.
Avoiding the Rams’ problems is a bad look for McVay, but he needs to find a healthy way to cope with the stress of being an NFL coach.
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That could mean taking on less responsibility or not being as much of a workaholic. He cited the stress that his family has dealt with during the Ukrainian War as well, as his wife Veronika was born and raised in Ukraine.
The good news is the Rams’ ownership has expressed support and empathy for McVay as he’s reached this crossroads despite the awkward position it would put them in as they’d need to replace him with a stopgap who knows it’s a matter of time before McVay returns.
That decision appears to be coming sooner than later, as he said he’s aiming to know this week. It’s hard to take his announcement that his assistant coaches can leave for lateral jobs elsewhere as anything but an ominous sign that his retirement is imminent. Why would he return to a depleted coaching staff that needs a major overhaul?
Losing defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to a head coaching job elsewhere is possible, but for him to take a lateral move would be tough to overcome. McVay’s staff already lost offensive coordinator Liam Coen and assistant Ra’Shaad Samples. Jake Peetz could possibly leave as well.
How Much Money Would Sean McVay Lose if he Retires?
The Rams have given McVay as much financial incentive to stay as they possibly can. He received a new five-year contract after winning the Super Bowl, making him the third-highest-paid coach in the NFL. McVay would make $14 million if he came back in 2023, just behind Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick.
If McVay retires and doesn’t pick up a studio job until he returns, it’s possible his total losses would exceed $30 million per year between his coaching salary and what Amazon was offering. Though it’s safe to say McVay is likely not hurting for money, walking away from it all would speak loudly to his internal feelings.
The good news is that if McVay were to retire and eventually return, he’d be a hot commodity. McVay could name his price and have suitors even if the Rams wanted to trade his rights elsewhere. It’s incredibly rare to find someone as accomplished as McVay available, and I’m sure the Rams would happily keep his rights for whenever he’s refreshed and ready to be back on the sidelines.
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I think it’s also plausible he takes the Bill Cowher route and never comes back to coaching. He’d make at least as much as he does now if he were to be an analyst, and the lifestyle of a broadcaster is significantly friendlier than being an NFL coach. Sure, he’d miss the adrenaline and power of being a head coach, but finding the right balance in life is key.
We’ll know soon about McVay’s decision and will continue to provide coverage as more details become available.