Los Angeles Rams Coach Sean McVay has reportedly turned down a $100 million broadcasting offer from Amazon, saying he is committed to helping his team defend its Super Bowl title.
The New York Post reported on Friday that McVay was scheduled to meet with Amazon next week, with the company hoping to conscript him as a game analyst for ‘Thursday Night Football,’ which will air exclusively on Prime Video starting this fall, on an up to five-year contract.
McVay, who at 36 became the youngest coach to lead their team to a Super Bowl win this season, confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday that he intended to stick it out with his team and his reported $8.5 million-per-year salary.
‘Sean McVay told ESPN today that he is not pursuing any television opportunities and he is committed to helping the Rams defend their Super-Bowl title,’ Schefter tweeted on Friday.
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, 36, (pictured) became the youngest coach to lead their team to a Super Bowl win this season, confirmed that he intended to stick it out with his team rather than take a broadcasting position on Amazon’s ‘Thursday Night Football’
Since becoming the team’s head coach in 2017, he’s amassed a 55-26 record and led the Rams to four postseason appearances and two NFC titles.
He reportedly also fended off advances from the Fox network.
Earlier, on February 12, McVay told ESPN’s Ian Rappoport via text message that he is ‘committed to this team and coaching.’
But in the past and again recently, multiple sources told ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry that the coach has flirted with the idea of shifting to a career as a television analyst.
And in January, multiple league executives told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that McVay could follow the path of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden who shifted to a broadcasting career with the sports network.
McVay sparked speculation about his longevity with the team when he spoke about achieving a work-life balance in the days leading up to Super Bowl LVI.
‘I want to have a family,’ McVay told Fox Sports. ‘And I think being able to find that balance but also be able to give the time necessary. I’ve always had a dream about being a father. And I can’t predict the future’
Odell Beckham Jr. of the Los Angeles Rams (right) and head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams celebrate after a touchdown against the against the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl LVI
‘I want to have a family,’ McVay told Fox Sports. ‘And I think being able to find that balance but also be able to give the time necessary. I’ve always had a dream about being a father. And I can’t predict the future.’
‘I know I love football, and I’m so invested in this thing. I’m in the moment right now. But at some point, if you said, “What do you want to do?” I want to be able to have a family, and I also want to be able to spend time with them.
‘And I know how much time is being taken away during this time of year, and I saw that growing up.’
He pointed to his father, Tim McVay, who didn’t get into coaching after Sean’s father, John McVay, missed family time due to his job as a coach and scout for the San Francisco 49ers.
After a series of pandemic-related postponements, McVay is set to marry fiancée Veronika Khomyn this summer.
After a series of pandemic-related postponements, McVay is set to marry fiancée Veronika Khomyn (left) this summer
McVay said ‘hell no’ when he was asked whether he would stay in the game until his 60s or 70s, like the New England Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick.
‘No chance. I love this, but if I’m doing this until I’m 60, I won’t make it.’
A day after the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 on February 14, he told a reporter asking whether he would return for the 2022 season that ‘we’ll see.’
But at the Rams’ Super Bowl parade two days later, McVay initiated a chant of ‘Run it back!’ and playfully tried to lure three-time Defense Player of the Year Aaron Donald out of a rumored retirement.
At the Rams’ Super Bowl parade, McVay initiated a chant of ‘Run it back!’ and playfully tried to lure three-time Defense Player of the Year Aaron Donald (pictured right with McVay) out of a rumored retirement
McVay is pictured at the Rams’ parade celebrating their Super Bowl LVI Championship
Donald has since said that he will ‘run it back’ and stay with the Rams, provided that the team brings back players Odell Beckham and Von Miller, telling TMZ that if ‘we bring everybody back, I’m back.’
Amazon has been courting legendary sportscaster Al Michaels, 71, as their lead play-by-play analyst for its Thursday Night Football program after his likely separation from the NBC Sports network this year – however, the eleven-time Super Bowl caller is waiting to see who ESPN would bring on as his partner.
McVay joins former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch in turning down the position.
