Kevin O’Connell’s Old Boss Could Call It Quits
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings found Kevin O’Connell from the coaching carousel last February, snatching the young offensive coordinator away from the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
So far, the experiment has played out marvelously, as Minnesota has a 12-4 record in O’Connell’s first 16 games. Not bad.
Now, though, O’Connell’s old boss, Sean McVay, could call it quits at the ripe old age of 36. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Saturday after the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders matchup, “Sean McVay’s immediate future as the Los Angeles Rams head coach is in limbo, multiple sources told ESPN.”
Kevin O’Connell’s Old Boss Could Call It Quits
McVay has the 32nd-best win percentage in NFL history as a head coach, tabulating a 60-37 (.619) record in six seasons. He was hired in 2017 — the same season the Vikings raced to the NFC Championship, for context — and has served as a habitual winner since. The Rams fell on hard times this season, but it’s the first losing season on McVay’s watch.
Thanks to injuries, particularly to Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald, a Super Bowl hangover, and a target on their back, the Rams have a 5-11 record entering Week 18. It’s the third-worst record in the NFC, ahead of only the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals.
So, to an outsider, it may seem like “this ain’t McVay’s year,” and he’s skedaddling accordingly.
Of course, McVay is young enough to take a few years off, perhaps soak up some fat checks as a TV analyst, and return to the sport with fresh optimism. Hell, he could perform that song and dance several more times in his career at age 36.
The Rams 2022 campaign is a house of horrors on both sides of the ball, ranking 22nd per defensive EPA/Play and 28th in offensive EPA/Play. And the offense numbers are especially naughty because McVay is among the most innovative offensive minds ever to grace the sport. Losing Stafford and Kupp for months has taken a toll, so much so that even the great McVay has no answers.
The version of McVay not on the sidelines Sunday could have glitzy alternatives. Front Row Sports tweeted after the McVay-in-limbo news, “NFL TV partners are already eyeing McVay as a possible game or studio analyst for the 2023 season.”
The rumor mill is hinting McVay could command $20 million per season from an outfit like Amazon, although those theories are speculative at the moment. In that vein, for the already accomplished McVay — why wouldn’t a guy take time off, land a stress-free gig, earn a cool $20 million per season, and plot next steps? That sounds brilliant — not a man giving up too soon.
Los Angeles finishes the 2022 season Sunday at Seattle. The Seahawks need a win — and Green Bay Packers loss — to sneak into the postseason, meaning the Rams are playing spoiler.
Ergo, after the Schefter tweet, that showdown could reasonably be McVay’s final game with the Rams. Seattle is favored by six over McVay’s depleted Rams.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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