Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay returns to the locker room following a 19-16 overtime loss against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Rams have ‘contingency plan’ if head coach Sean McVay leaves

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 1/13/23

The Los Angeles Rams already lost their offensive coordinator, and now, they’re bracing to possibly lose their head coach as well.

While there is no tentative deadline for McVay’s decision, Rams' chief operating officer Kevin Demoff is steadfast that the franchise is prepared for whichever one the sixth-year head coach makes, alluding to the fact that the Rams have a contingency plan should they be in the market for a new head coach, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“We’ve known for some time that he was going to wait until after the season to make a decision about whether he wants to coach in 2023,” Demoff said on Thursday. “We’ve always told Sean we’d give him that space to make that decision and we’ll support him in whatever direction he goes.”

#Rams coach Sean McVay, whose future is in limbo, has permitted his coaching staff to search for other jobs without resistance, per sources. McVay said in a staff meeting that he doesn’t know what he will do next year and won’t block those who want to explore opportunities
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 10, 2023

That contingency plan almost certainly includes either assistant head coach/tight ends coach Thomas Brown and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

Morris has three-plus years of experience as a head coach and interim head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, compiling a 21-38 record. He did lead the Bucs to a 10-6 season in 2010. According to MMQB’s Albert Breer, Morris is the guy to watch.

“If McVay’s out, Morris will be the favorite to replace him,” Breer recently wrote. “The Rams had to prepare for this last year, too, with McVay, and I know the plan at that point was to elevate Morris if McVay left, even before they lost Kevin O’Connell to the Vikings. I have no reason to think that’s changed.”

Brown is perhaps the hottest name in the coaching market, and he’s been mentioned as a frontrunner for multiple offensive coordinator and head coaching jobs around the NFL. He’s been with the Rams since 2020, starting as a running backs coach and working his way up to assistant head coach. He has been known to run leadership meetings in McVay’s absence.

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