THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- These last couple of weeks were an awkward time for Les Snead. He didn't know if he would return as the Los Angeles Rams' general manager, and yet he remained a key part of the search for a new head coach, a determination that would ultimately decide his own job status.
At the onset, Snead told Rams owner Stan Kroenke and COO Kevin Demoff he simply wanted to "help you guys get this right."
"I would rather get it right and not be a part than get it wrong to be a part -- and after that, we'll figure out myself," Snead said Friday, the day after 30-year-old Sean McVay was introduced as the Rams' new head coach. "It’s not about me. It’s about we, and this is a very collaborative organization. That’s been my thought. We knew we had a position to fill. Very important. Head coach. I’ll do my best in helping us get that right, and from there we’ll figure out myself."
The Rams have figured out Snead's situation, at least for now. He will remain GM for a sixth season and must now build a working relationship with McVay, who was given a five-year contract that indicates he is in it for the long haul.
The Rams have agreed to terms with 69-year-old Wade Phillips to be their defensive coordinator but have yet to decide on an offensive coordinator. It's their least urgent position, because McVay, who spent the last three years running the Redskins' offense, will call plays. Special teams coordinator John Fassel, the interim coach for the Rams' last three regular-season games, will return, Snead confirmed. But the fates of the other assistants are uncertain as McVay goes about assembling his first coaching staff.
The Rams also have agreed to terms with former Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry to be their assistant head coach and linebackers coach, a source confirmed to ESPN's John Keim. Barry coached linebackers at USC in 2010 and in the NFL for 13 years, with the Buccaneers, Lions and Chargers. He was fired last week after spending the last two seasons as the Redskins' defensive coordinator. Sporting News reported Friday that Bill Johnson, among five coaches let go by the New Orleans Saints last week, is joining the Rams as defensive line coach, a position previously held by the esteemed Mike Waufle, who was announced as the Buffalo Bills' defensive line coach on Saturday.
Soon, the Rams' entire coaching staff -- minus Fassel -- will look different.
But not the front office.
"I’m more thrilled about the opportunity, especially to work with Sean," Snead said when asked about staying in his current role. "I’m well aware of the magnitude of the opportunity and know the responsibility that comes with it. I’m looking forward to partnering with him so we can do what we need to do on a daily basis to get us where we want to be and where the fans want us to be."
Snead spent 15 years with the Atlanta Falcons -- first as a pro scout and then as director of player personnel -- before being named the Rams' GM on Feb. 14, 2012, about a month after Jeff Fisher was hired as head coach. Snead and Fisher both signed extensions through 2018 at the start of the 2016 season. But Fisher was fired on the morning of Dec. 12, and at that point Snead's job status became tenuous.
That afternoon, Demoff said: "I think it would be a mistake right now to say we’re satisfied with where we’re at on a personnel side and to ensure that Les would be back. I think Les would be the first person to stand up here and say the same thing."
Under Snead -- and, to a larger extent, Fisher -- the Rams have finished no better than 7-8-1 over their last five years and are coming off a 4-12 showing in their first season back in Los Angeles. The Rams lost 65 of 80 games from 2007 to 2011, and Snead stocked up on picks in hopes of rebuilding the organization through the draft. The results were mixed. Snead hit on back-to-back rookies of the year in defensive tackle Aaron Donald (13th overall in 2014) and running back Todd Gurley (10th overall in 2015). But he whiffed on left tackle Greg Robinson (second overall in 2014) and wide receiver Brian Quick (33rd overall in 2012), and the verdict is still out on gadget receiver Tavon Austin (eighth overall in 2013).
In his five years, Snead has been unable to build a successful offensive line, and the Rams have struggled mightily to score points. Now his fate is tied to his quarterback, Jared Goff, taken first overall after Snead traded to move up 14 spots.
His fate, in some ways, is also tied to a millennial coach.
"He’s going to help me out," Snead said of McVay. "He’s doing things on his phone, I’m like, ‘Wow.’"
McVay, who turns 31 on Jan. 24, is the youngest head coach of the NFL's modern era. He is 15 years younger than Snead, who turns 46 on Thursday, and 28 years younger than Fisher.
"His playlist is definitely different than Jeff’s," Snead said, smiling.
"Anytime you get someone who’s passionate about being the best every single day, you want to jump on board. That’s a special quality.
"Guess what, we happen to be in the football business. He’s passionate about football, and he’s passionate about the process of actually being the best every single day, improving every single day. So we’re very aligned in that way. Excited to partner with him."