Sean McVay is at a crossroads in his coaching career. He’s debating whether he wants to continue leading the Rams, or potentially take some time away from football to focus on himself and his family.
It’s likely the result of burnout, which McVay admitted he was worried about years ago. Being a head coach just seems to have taken a physical and mental toll on him, especially with how much responsibility he’s taken on himself – from finding new coordinators every year to handling play-calling duties on offense, along with everything else a head coach must do.
If McVay decides to return for the 2023 season, finding the right offensive coordinator and delegating play-calling responsibilities might be the key to his coaching longevity.
Liam Coen officially returned to Kentucky as the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator and QBs coach on Tuesday, once again leaving a void on the Rams’ staff. Coen didn’t call the plays in Los Angeles; no offensive coordinator has.
But perhaps with his next hire, McVay should bring in someone he can entrust to be the play caller. So much goes into that role, from stress on game days to planning in the week leading up to Sundays. Taking that off McVay’s plate could work wonders.
There are some good options out there, too.
Frank Reich, who was fired by the Colts earlier this season, is still available. He’s an experienced play caller and offensive-minded coach, spending time with the Chargers and Eagles before landing with the Colts. In nine years as an offensive coordinator and head coach, his teams finished in the top 10 in points four times and worse than 17th only twice.
He would make a lot of sense as the Rams’ coordinator under McVay as an experienced veteran coach on his staff – similar to the way Wade Phillips was on defense.
Kliff Kingsbury is another name to consider. McVay and Kingsbury are friends and though he’s only 43 years old, the former Cardinals head coach is also a play caller who can take that duty off McVay’s plate. He had Arizona rolling in 2021 before a disastrous end to the season, so he has had at least some success as a leader of an offense.
Of course, McVay likes to keep these hires in-house when it comes to his offensive coordinators. For that reason, he could consider Thomas Brown or Zac Robinson if McVay decides to return. But maybe, just maybe, hiring a proven coach to take the reins on offense and lessen the burden on McVay is exactly what the doctor ordered.
