Sean McVay wants the world to know that NFL head coaches can sometimes be grumpy for reasons other than football.
The Los Angeles Rams coach turned heads on Thursday for looking unenthusiastic after his team drafted Ty Simpson. Fans and media members alike read into the moment as McVay’s non-verbal way of expressing disapproval of general manager Les Snead drafting Matthew Stafford’s potential successor.
McVay shot that notion down during the Rams’ press conference following Day 2 of the 2026 NFL draft. A report emerged earlier in the day that McVay was “in lockstep” with Snead on the Simpson pick, and the veteran coach confirmed it.
“What do you guys think, am I angry right now?” McVay joked to cut through the tension.
“I will say this, though: the one thing that would never be doubted is we couldn’t be in more lockstep in every decision that we make. I get my demeanor last night. … We’re excited about [Ty Simpson].
“Always want to be mindful of how things come off, things like that. … Couldn’t be more excited about us continuing to lead together, but every decision that we make is collective and collaborative.”
Sean McVay addresses his demeanor during the Ty Simpson press conference on Thursday and says he’s excited about the draft pick and that Les Snead is his buddy and they are on the same page. pic.twitter.com/nFUAJ1eLzE
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 25, 2026
McVay claimed there were “misunderstandings” regarding his demeanor and called Snead his “brother.”
“Sometimes, I could be a little grumpy,” McVay admitted.
Asked about why he was feeling grumpy, McVay stated that he had “normal life” reasons that had nothing to do with the Rams’ draft decisions.
McVay called it a “blessing” for Simpson to get the chance to learn from Stafford. The Rams coach added that he was also trying to be respectful of his longtime starting QB, which is what many interpreted from the previous day’s press conference.
Stafford has had to answer questions about retirement for several offseasons now, but has continued to post productive seasons for the Rams year after year. If Stafford still has a few more MVP-caliber campaigns left in the tank, Simpson may be sitting behind him for quite some time.
