Rams' Sean McVay Briefly Gave Up Play-Calling Duties to Liam Coen During 2022 Season

As the Los Angeles Rams descended into disaster in the 2022 season, head coach Sean McVay tried everything to right the ship. He even gave up calling the plays.

According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, "The low point came when the Rams traveled to Kansas City in Week 12. McVay gave up play-calling, handing off duties to [offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Liam] Coen. McVay wanted to see if ceding control could ease some stress, and at [3-7], the Rams had nothing to lose by trying it out."

It didn't work—the Rams lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 26-10, and it perhaps taught McVay an important lesson.

"I think it made him more miserable," Rams COO Kevin Demoff said. "But I also think it was really empowering for him to know, 'OK, that is not a solution to this.'"

McVay also realized he had the power to affect the entire mood of the franchise with only his attitude and body language.

"I have an ability to bring people with me in this positive energy and this aura," he told The Athletic. "But I also believe that can be equally destructive, even if I'm not saying anything. The frustration, the body language guys feel—that leads to them being tighter and not going and playing the way they are capable of."

The result was McVay seriously considering his future this offseason after a 5-12 campaign, before ultimately committing to another season with the Rams. Despite the struggles of 2022—which could at least in part be attributed to a very tough run of injuries—McVay remains one of the NFL's brightest minds, leading the Rams to a 60-38 record, four postseason berths, two Super Bowl appearances and a title in his six seasons as head coach.

It's a pretty impressive resume for a 37-year-old.

But the Rams also closed the season on a more upbeat note. As McVay adjusted his approach down the stretch, the mood in the locker room changed as well. The pall had lifted.

"That's what I'm most proud of," he told The Athletic.

"We didn't stop the storm," he added. "I didn't for me, at least. But I at least grabbed an umbrella and I said, 'I won't let this totally tear me down personally.'"