Sean McVay Could Make a Bold Move by Hiring Lovie Smith as Assistant Head Coach
The move would be a bold one, no doubt about it. But for a head coach like Sean McVay, whose assistants are consistently being plucked away from the Rams for other jobs, veteran head coach Lovie Smith could provide the assistant head coach role with the much-needed consistency to make McVay and the Rams successful beyond 2025.
A Pattern of Departures
Current Assistant Head Coach (AHC) Aubrey Pleasant was recently in the running for the Bears’ defensive coordinator position. And once the Saints finalize their head coach situation, Pleasant could once again be in play for New Orleans. In fact, Pleasant has also interviewed for the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator job after Jacksonville hired former McVay assistant Liam Coen as their head coach.
If Pleasant were to leave, he would be the fourth AHC out of the four that McVay has had in eight years to depart for a coordinator position elsewhere. Joe Barry joined former Rams assistant Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, Thomas Brown became the offensive coordinator in Carolina, and Jimmy Lake followed Raheem Morris to Atlanta.
Enter Lovie Smith
In the event that Pleasant leaves, could McVay make the bold decision to hire Lovie Smith for the assistant head coach role? Smith, the former head coach of the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Illinois Fighting Illini, served under David Culley as the Texans’ AHC and defensive coordinator during the 2021 NFL season. Smith was then controversially elevated to the head coaching position after Culley was fired.
Despite the team’s roster issues, Smith’s defense in Houston was a turnover machine, forcing 25 takeaways in 2021. However, Smith was subsequently fired, giving the impression that he was always meant to be a lame-duck coach as ownership paved the way for DeMeco Ryans to take over.
Elevating Each Other
If Smith is interested in coaching and McVay needs a new AHC, both men could elevate each other to a championship standard. Smith, despite not being widely regarded as one of the most brilliant defensive minds in the 21st century, has the film and numbers to back up his prowess. Spoiler alert: he is indeed one of the best.
Pleasant played a significant role in designing the Rams’ defensive game plan, and Smith would be able to do the same. Additionally, given his age, Smith is unlikely to leave Los Angeles for another job, making him a suitable long-term solution for the AHC position, as seen with several of McVay’s older assistants.
A Winning Combination
Smith brings a wealth of experience as a head coach and has previously served as an assistant head coach. His track record as a winner speaks for itself. It seems like a perfect match for McVay and the Rams.
In conclusion, if McVay is looking for stability and a proven winner, hiring Lovie Smith as the assistant head coach could be a bold move that pays off. Smith’s defensive expertise and experience as a head coach make him an ideal candidate to contribute to the Rams’ success in the coming years. Only time will tell if McVay decides to make this move, but it certainly has the potential to elevate the team to a championship standard.