The list of notable NFL head coaches that have retired immediately after winning the Super Bowl is unsurprisingly short:
- Dick Vermeil
- Bill Parcells
- Bill Walsh
Another name was almost added to that list after the 2022 season. Rams coach Sean McVay was reportedly offered a five year, $100 million TV deal by Amazon. But, in typical Rams fashion, the team found a fun way to confirm McVay’s return to the program via Twitter.
They simply tweeted out a GIF from the famous movie “The Wolf Of Wall Street,” where the main character, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, yells into a microphone, “I’m not leaving.”
While it may seem foolish for McVay to leave football at such a young age (36, the youngest ever to win the Super Bowl), there was definitely some reason for Rams fans to be nervous.
“I know I love football and I’m so invested in this thing and I’m in the moment right now,” McVay said before the Super Bowl. “But at some point, too, if you said, what do you want to be able to do? I want to be able to have a family, and I want to be able to spend time with them.”
Funny enough, though, it was his family that first broke the news of McVay returning to the team in the first place.
Veronika Khomyn, McVay’s fiancee, posted an Instagram Story just hours after the Rams Super Bowl parade saying, “And no. He is NOT retiring!!!”
Fortunately, the rumors of McVay’s retirement are over and done with. Now, he will look to join the prestigious list of head coaches who have won back-to-back titles:
- Vince Lombardi
- Don Shula
- Chuck Noll
- Jimmy Johnson
- Mike Shanahan
- Bill Belichick
The source of contention
At the root of all this drama is Amazon, who’s (frankly speaking) seemingly attempting a complete takeover of NFL media coverage.
Starting in 2022, Amazon Prime Video will become the first streaming service to have exclusive rights to a package of NFL games. They received this right thanks to a $1 billion deal between Amazon and the NFL signed last year.
In November of 2021, it was even reported that Amazon was seeking a 49% stake in NFL Network, RedZone, and NFL.com.
But Amazon isn’t stopping there–the pursuit for McVay was just one stop of a multi–faceted plan to put together the greatest NFL commentary team known to mankind. Al Michaels signed on after a long round of negotiations, and Amazon also added ESPN’s top college football analyst into the mix. Kirk Herbstreit was inked to a multi-year TV deal.
Super Bowl LVII: Do McVay and the Rams have a chance?
McVay’s return brings along the prospects of a Super Bowl repeat–but what are the odds? DraftKings Sportsbook currently has the Rams as the fifth most-likely team to win the Super Bowl, sitting at +1200. The teams ahead of them are:
- Buffalo Bills: +650
- Kansas City Chiefs: +800
- Green Bay Packers: +850
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +850
While the Rams are right up there with the rest of them, questions about their roster next season still remain. They’ve already lost Von Miller to the Bills, and star defensive lineman Aaron Donald is still on the fence.
Offensively, they will hopefully now have a full season with Cam Akers at running back. Cooper Kupp is a top-tier wide receiver, and he’ll be joined by free agent signing Allen Robinson.
Sports betting isn’t legal yet in the state of California, but don’t worry–things are in the works. Several sports betting California initiatives may be going on the state election ballot in November 2022. Make sure to get out and vote!
