The St. Louis Rams ended last season with a 34-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on New Year's Day to finish with a 2-14 record. Roughly 24 hours later, they fired coach Steve Spagnuolo.

That led Spagnuolo and his wife, Maria, to head to Mexico to relax, reflect, recoup and regroup. While kicking back, they also discussed their options moving forward.

The Rams still owed Spagnuolo for the final year of the $11.5 million contract he signed in 2009 after becoming a head coach for the first time in a career that began in 1981. In other words, the Whitinsville native and former Grafton High coach could opt to do a whole lot of nothing and still get paid a whole lot of coin for the next 52 weeks.

He considered the possibilities. The chance to give something to his wife that money can't buy — quality time with her — was extremely enticing.

But the pull of coaching and the allure of football ultimately proved too strong to ignore.

“You know, maybe that thought process will sound good for a month or two,” Spagnuolo, 52, said during a phone conversation last week about taking a paid sabbatical. “But then once the coaching itch hits you and the teaching and being around it starts to get at you, it can be a little tough for me. So I realize this is what I do — I've been doing it for 30 years now.

“I love being around the players, being around the coaches, the camaraderie, everything that comes with being a part of something. Maria enjoys it as well. She's happy with where we're going to be.”

That would be New Orleans, the Saints having hired Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator 17 days after he was cut loose by the Rams, who lost 38 of 48 games under his watch.

The Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009 and reached the playoffs each of the last two seasons, but quarterback Drew Brees and a record-setting offense have received most of the credit for that success. And deservedly so.

The Saints went 13-3 last season despite fielding a defense that ranked 24th in yards allowed, 13th in points allowed, tied for 19th in sacks, and tied for 28th in interceptions. Those numbers are clearly underwhelming for a team with championship ambitions.

However, just as Spagnuolo has moved on from St. Louis, so too has he opted to look ahead rather than back at what the New Orleans defense hasn't done. He made that clear to the players the first time he met with them.

“We don't look back at stats from a year ago or two years ago, we build up,” Spagnuolo said. “What we're trying to do here is build a foundation of basic, fundamental defensive football, and if they continue to add to what they've done in the past — play physical, aggressive, hard-hitting football — then I think we can put together something pretty good.”

Although it didn't show in the standings, Spagnuolo believes the Rams made positive strides as an organization during his stay. He believes he's better for the experience and would embrace the opportunity to be an NFL head coach again.

And if it doesn't happen, he'll be fine with that.

“Certainly, I would like another opportunity,” Spagnuolo said. “Now, if the good Lord doesn't present one, I'll be a happy man doing what I'm doing now — staying in this league, hopefully being employed as an assistant coach, and be fine with my career. I'll know I had my opportunity and I'd be fine with that.

“But the competitor in me would like an opportunity to have a team again and find a way to have the results be a little bit better.”

Spagnuolo and his wife plan to get up to the Northeast sometime during the brief window that opens early in the summer between the non-offseason and the start of training camp. Their itinerary will include visiting family in Central Mass. and Philadelphia, where Maria is from, and spending some time on the beach.

Spagnuolo could have spent all summer with his toes dug in the sand. But he's a coach and he couldn't pass up an opportunity to continue doing what he does best and enjoys the most.

“I'm blessed to be involved with it,” he said. “I really am.”