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Karras Apologizes to McVay After Rams Joke

The Bengals center said he has the utmost respect for Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay after joking about the team's Australia trip.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a football player mid-action in Bengals orange and black, with Rams royal blue and gold accents in the background.
Bengals center Ted Karras apologized to Rams coach Sean McVay on Thursday after joking about Los Angeles' trip to Australia, saying he has the utmost respect for McVay. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras issued a public apology to Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay after making a joke at the Rams' expense about their trip to Australia. Karras said he has the utmost respect for the Rams and McVay.

Why it matters

The exchange comes as the Bengals prepare to play the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, Spain, and it draws attention to the Rams' recent loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne. Karras's connection to Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, his former college quarterback at Illinois, adds a personal dimension to the remarks.

The Rams lost 27-7 to the 49ers on September 10 after arriving in Australia less than two days before kickoff, while the 49ers arrived about a week earlier. The Bengals sit at 5-2 following a 43-36 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans.

The players

Ted Karras

Ted Karras is a center for the Cincinnati Bengals who made the remarks and issued the apology.

Sean McVay

Sean McVay is the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams and the recipient of Karras's apology.

Nate Scheelhaase

Nate Scheelhaase is the Rams offensive coordinator and Karras's former college quarterback at Illinois.

The details

Karras made the original comment during a Monday, November 2 press conference while discussing the Bengals' upcoming trip to Spain. He issued his apology during a Thursday, November 5 press conference, saying he has a relationship with Nate Scheelhaase, who was his college quarterback at Illinois.

Timeline

  1. September 10: The Rams lost 27-7 to the 49ers in Melbourne.

  2. Monday, November 2: Karras made the original joke at a press conference.

  3. Tuesday night, November 4: The Bengals departed for Madrid and arrived Wednesday morning.

  4. Thursday, November 5: Karras issued the apology at a press conference.

  5. November 8: The Bengals play the Falcons at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

Season Trajectory

The Bengals' trip to Madrid comes at 5-2, and the Rams' Melbourne loss to the 49ers has become a reference point for how overseas travel can affect a team's performance. Both clubs are now measured against the results of their international trips this season.

The Bengals will be playing a game in Madrid on November 8, six hours ahead of Cincinnati time. Fans following the team will need to account for the time difference when watching the Falcons matchup.

The takeaway

The exchange shows how travel logistics and personal relationships can shape the way teams talk about each other during a busy schedule. Readers following the Bengals can watch how the team adapts to its trip to Spain.

What happens next

The Bengals are scheduled to play the Atlanta Falcons at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on November 8.

Further reading

Explore more on the Football section for context on the Bengals' season.