• Sean McVay asks assistants to avoid interview talk during game planning.
  • Assistants Chris Shula, Mike LaFleur and Nate Scheelhaase held interviews after practice.
  • McVay stresses focus on the Rams’ current goal: winning a Super Bowl.

H2: Overview
Sean McVay is used to seeing top assistants pursue head-coaching opportunities. As members of his staff draw interest leaguewide, McVay has one clear request: don’t bring interview conversations into the middle of game planning. The Rams coach wants coaches to remain fully focused on the team’s playoff push.

H3: McVay’s simple rule
“Don’t ask me about interview stuff when we’re in the middle of game planning,” McVay said, underscoring the importance of maintaining concentration during a crucial time of the season. He told reporters that while he’s happy to advise and help assistants prepare for interviews, timing matters — especially during playoff week preparation.

H3: How Rams assistants handled interviews
Chris Shula, Mike LaFleur and Nate Scheelhaase all received interview requests and waited until after Friday practice to conduct virtual interviews. By scheduling them after practice, the staff ensured that game-planning responsibilities and travel routines were intact before the team flew to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears.

McVay’s stance is practical: allow assistants to chase career advancement, but not at the expense of the Rams’ immediate goals. In-person interviews, per league rules, may follow after the divisional round — starting Monday, Jan. 19 — giving teams time to balance personnel evaluations with playoff obligations.

H4: What this means for the Rams’ playoff focus
Keeping interview talk off the practice field is about protecting the process. McVay’s message aims to preserve clarity for players and coaches as the team pushes toward a Super Bowl title. For assistants, the message is clear: pursue opportunity, but don’t let it distract the squad during game week.

For Mike LaFleur specifically, the approach lets him showcase readiness for a bigger role while honoring his responsibilities to the Rams. That duality — preparing for the next step while delivering on present duties — is a common theme in coaching circles, and McVay’s guidance helps set a standard for how to balance both.

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H4: Bottom line
Sean McVay supports his assistants’ career growth — including interviews for head-coach jobs — but draws a firm line around game planning. By asking Shula, LaFleur and Scheelhaase to wait until practice was over, McVay reinforced that the Rams’ immediate mission comes first: focus on the next game and the long-term goal of a Super Bowl run.

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