Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay opened up about nearly stepping away from coaching a few years ago.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay opened up about nearly stepping away from coaching a few years ago.
In a recent appearance on Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, McVay provided a raw response from almost quitting coaching after the Rams' 5-12 season in 2022.
“It took that 5-12 years where you’re really getting broken down and I mean, I almost quit coaching,” McVay said.
“You could use the narrative that I was going to the media or whatever, but the truth would have been, I was quitting. I couldn't handle the losing; it was almost like a scarlet letter. I was counting down the days for that season to be over. I was like, 'What a fraud.' I'll never forget explaining the situation to my wife, Veronika. Maybe I'll step away, it's going to be a really tough upcoming season, I had some media stuff, and if I had done that, I would have conveniently hid behind that, but the reality is I would have been quitting. Basically, I was trying to rationalize and justify why I should do it.
“It coincided with her being pregnant with our oldest, Jordan. I remember I was explaining it and she just kind of looked at me and it was very loving and supportive, and she’s like ‘You know it never really sounded like the kind of leader you wanted to be.’ and I was like ‘Boom,’ it him me like a ton of bricks."
While many outside of McVay and people closest to him had an idea of how close he was to retiring, many didn't know the exact reason. The Rams' struggles in 2022 took a toll on the 40-year-old head coach.
What may have shocked some was that it was not due to a burnout, media opportunities, or even simply wanting a break. At that point in time, McVay had completed his seventh season as coach for Los Angeles, and was one year removed form winnign a Super Bowl.
For many coaches, that would have been enough considering what McVay had accomplished at that point. However, after that tough conversation with his wife, he knew he would not have walked away completely as a head coach.
There was a ton of self-doubt for McVay, which is a surprise in itself considering how upbeat he always appears to be in public. Nonetheless, it was a challenging period for the Super Bowl-winning head coach, and it negatively affected him.
In hindsight, McVay’s uncertainty and ultimately coming back became one of the most poignant moments of his career. After that horrid 2022 season, the Rams rebounded quickly and re-established themselves as contenders.
As the 2026 season approaches, the Rams are the Super Bowl favorites largely due to McVay being at the helm.
