National Football League

Report: Spagnuolo 'living in the now'

Published Dec. 28, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo on Wednesday attempted to downplay reports he could be out of St. Louis and on his way back to Philadelphia at the end of the season.

Spagnuolo was tipped to return to the Eagles as the team's defensive coordinator if, as expected, he is fired at the end of the regular season.

But the Rams' third-year coach said Wednesday he was unaware of any forthcoming changes to his job status.

"Well, I'm honestly and truly not aware of all the things going on," Spagnuolo said in a conference call with reporters, according to Comcast SportsNet. "I think I'm smart enough to know that things will be said."

"I don't know specifically what you're talking about — about what you just said about Philadelphia," he added. "But I can tell you this: We're living in the now. And right now what we do and what we're supposed to do as employees here and representatives of the Rams organization is focus on the Rams and, in this case, playing the San Francisco 49ers."

Spagnuolo, 52, said he had not spoken to Rams ownership about his future.

"We have to finish the season. It's not over yet," he said.

The San Diego Union-Tribune, citing league sources, reported Monday that Rams owner Stan Kroenke was dismantling the team's coaching staff and that Spagnuolo was "all but certain" to replace first-year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo in Philadelphia.

The Rams are 2-13 heading into the final game of the regular season Sunday. The team has gone just 10-37 during Spagnuolo's tenure and has not made the playoffs since 2004.

Spagnuolo served as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants for two seasons prior to taking the job in St. Louis. His reputation boomed after helping mastermind the Giants' victory over the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.