Rams won’t let Kevin O’Connell leave for Chargers

The Chargers hired former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as their next head coach, and he was interested in bringing Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell with him. But the Rams won’t allow it.

The Rams blocked O’Connell from interviewing the Chargers, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.

Assistant coaches who are under contract must have permission from their current team to interview another team. O’Connell can see the Chargers as a potential promotion as he would call the games with the Chargers, while head coach Sean McVay calls the games on the Rams. But the Rams have no obligation to let O’Connell go.

McVay had previously cleared former Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur to leave and become the Titans’ offensive coordinator, and a year later, LaFleur became head coach of the Packers. It’s easy to see why O’Connell would hope to move in the same direction towards his own goal of becoming a head coach. But McVay is going to keep O’Connell in place.