It's common for first-team players to find themselves benched for NFL preseason games. It's less common, however, for head coaches to do the same.
Nevertheless, that's exactly what Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has decided to do for the team's second preseason contest this weekend.
McVay has named passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant to the head coaching role against the Chargers in his place on Saturday. Though he won't be on the sideline, McVay is not taking the day off — it's been reported that he will be up either in the coaching or broadcast booths instead.
"He's earned the right of assistant head coach because of the influence and the positive effect that he has on everyone in this building," McVay said of Pleasant. "I think it's a great, earned opportunity and he'll do an excellent job."
Here's everything to know about Pleasant and why he will lead the team's second preseason game while McVay works above the action.
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Who is Aubrey Pleasant?
Pleasant is the Rams' passing game coordinator and now the assistant head coach, as well. He returned to Los Angeles in February 2023 after having served as the team's cornerbacks coach from 2017-20.
Following his career as a safety at the University of Wisconsin, Pleasant became a graduate assistant at the University of Michigan working mainly with the defensive backs. The Cleveland Browns gave Pleasant his start in the NFL, hiring him as an offensive staff and head coaching intern during training camp in 2013.
The Washington Redskins jumped on Pleasant after training camp that year, hiring him as an offensive assistant before promoting him to defensive quality control coach the following season.
The Rams approached Pleasant after the 2016 season, and he worked his first stint in Los Angeles until the Detroit Lions hired him as a pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach in January 2021.
He was let go by the team in October 2022 and the next month became an offensive consultant to Green Bay Packer's head coach Matt LaFleur, offering a defensive perspective until heading back to Los Angeles upon the season's end.
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Why is Sean McVay in the booth for the Rams second preseason game?
This isn't the first time a head coach has abandoned his post in a preseason game in favor stepping back from the action. Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel dubbed defensive line coach Terrell Williams to take his place in the team's opener last year.
McVay will step aside as well in favor of likely splitting time between the coaching and broadcast booths during the contest. The opportunity should help the head coach get a different perspective of game day operations, as well as get a bird's eye view of the action.
Last week, McVay also joined in on announcing the team's preseason game against the Cowboys, putting on a headset mid-matchup to offer commentary on the broadcast. It's possible he does the same this week while helping Pleasant from above.
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Rams preseason schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent/results | Time (ET) |
| 1 | Aug. 11 | Rams 13, Cowboys 12 | — |
| 2 | Aug. 17 | at Chargers | 7:05 p.m. |
| 3 | Aug. 24 | at Texans | 1 p.m. |
