Sean McVay will coach in his third NFC Championship game with the Los Angeles Rams this upcoming weekend. He has already earned two Super Bowl berths since taking over as head coach in 2017 with a victory in 2021.
From the turn of the millennium to 2016, the Rams made only a single Super Bowl (2001). This stretch included frequent losing seasons, sporadic playoff appearances, and no deep playoffs runs for the better part of 15 years. The Rams were mostly an afterthought in the NFL.
Fans who stuck through this era should have a deep appreciation for all McVay has accomplished in nine years. The still-young coach is not only cementing himself as one of the best to don the headset for his franchise but perhaps the best to ever do it in professional football. Nearly every team across the NFL has attempted to steal a piece of the Rams’ and McVay’s magic. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.
It’s unheard of that someone who has yet to turn 40 and has less than a decade of head coaching experience could claim one of the most robust coaching trees in the sport. This tree includes:
- Matt LaFleur, Green Bay packers
- Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
- Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
- Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Zac Robinson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OC)
- Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers (DC)
- Wes Phillips, Minnesota Vikings (OC)
- Matt Daniels, Minnesota Vikings (STC)
- Jedd Fisch, Washington Huskies
- Raheem Morris, likely to land DC role
- Brandon Staley, New Orleans Saints (DC)
- Nick Caley, Houston Texans (OC)
And the tree is likely to grow more branches this offseason. The LA Chargers could interview Aubrey Pleasant for their recently opened defensive coordinator role. Current Rams coordinators Chris Shula (DC) and Mike LaFleur (OC) should have chances at head coaching roles along with passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
While others attempt to emulate the Rams and McVay, there truly is no replication of the original. McVay has adapted his scheme and style multiple times over nine years with the team. He’s changed his identity as a heavy user of play action with Jared Goff to one of the most refined drop back passing games featuring Matthew Stafford, and then he returned to his roots in 2025. The newest trick up his sleeve is the frequent deployment of multiple tight ends in order to maximize advantages over defenses and tip their hands with personnel. The Rams took a time machine back 15 years and brought with them on their return a revamped under center passing attack.
McVay is always a step ahead of the competition. Those who copy him can only study where he’s been so far.
We don’t know how long the McVay era will last in Los Angeles. We do know the major NFL broadcasters remain very interested in his talents and these opportunities could grow more appealing now that he’s the father to two children. By age alone McVay has plenty of runway to become the greatest head coach in league history, but he’s a seemingly tormented soul that burns at both ends. We cannot rule out an unexpected break.
It would be a great joy to watch McVay stick the landing from late-career Matthew Stafford to LA’s next franchise signal caller. This would give us yet another reinvention of his trend setting offense. If the Rams win another championship or two, there’s a chance we see both Stafford and McVay hang it up in the coming years.
But this is all getting ahead of ourselves. Long-term Rams fans have know how dramatically fortune has shifted with McVay at the helm. Darker days are behind us and ahead.
For now all we can do is appreciate the moment we are in. The Rams are playing for another trip to the Super Bowl. These are fleeting moments for our team as well as most others. Win or lose we should be grateful for the journey and a decade of high quality football.
We can never take Sean McVay for granted. There isn’t another of his kind.
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