On January 12, 2017, Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke named Sean McVay the 23rd full-time head coach in franchise history. McVay became the youngest coach in modern NFL history at 30 years old.
He has led the Rams to six playoff berths and two Super Bowl appearances in his first eight seasons, winning Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. McVay, who turned 39 in January, has a 80-52 regular season record and is 8-5 in the playoffs. His 80 regular season wins are the third-most by a coach before turning 40 in NFL history, behind only Curly Lambeau (130) and George Halas (107). He also has led the Rams to seven winning seasons with four NFC West titles. McVay is currently the fourth-youngest head coach in the NFL despite entering his ninth season at the helm, making him the fourth-longest tenured coach in the NFL behind Mike Tomlin, Andy Reid and John Harbaugh.
In 2024, McVay passed John Robinson (79 wins) for the most wins by a head coach in franchise history. He also tied Robinson for the most playoff berths by a coach in franchise history. McVay led a group that became the first team in NFL history to enter their bye week with a losing record and make the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Under McVay, the offense ranked 10th in the NFL in passing yards per game (227.5), 13th in net yards per attempts (6.9), and 15th in yards per game (331.4) and first downs per game (20.1). The team also tied for seventh in fourth down conversion rate (66.7%) and tied for 10th in turnover margin (six).
QB Matthew Stafford finished in the top-15 in passing yards and touchdowns under McVay in 2024. He also surpassed 3,000 passing yards in a season for the 12th time in his career and became the 13th different quarterback in NFL history to accomplish the feat. Stafford passed Eli Manning for 10th all-time in career passing ayrds (59.809) and passing touchdowns (377).
RB Kyren Williams built on the success of his All-Pro season the year prior and tallied single-season career-highs in rushing yards (1,299) and rushing touchdowns (14) in 2024. Williams joined Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and Todd Gurley as the only Rams players since 2000 to record 14 rushing touchdowns in a season. To date, his 31 scrimmage touchdowns since 2023 are the most in the NFL.
In 2024, the receiving corps recorded the 10th-most receiving yards and sixth-fewest drops (15). They also finished 12th in yards per reception (11.2). Despite missing five games, WR Puka Nacua recorded 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns. He became the second player in NFL history to record at least 150 receptions, 2,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in his first 25 career games. Nacua also became the first player in franchise history and the 16th player in NFL history to record 150+ receiving yards, one receiving touchdown and one rushing touchdown in a game.
The Rams' offensive line ranked first in penalties per game (5.56), sixth in sacks allowed (31), tied for sixth in quarterback sack rate (5.5%), tied for seventh in hurries allowed (132), and 11th in pressures allowed (191). The unit also did not allow a sack in four consecutive weeks (Weeks 14-17),, which tied for the longest streak in franchise history and the first time they have accomplished the feat since 2013.
On defense, the Rams finished tied for fifth in red zone efficiency (50%) and sixth in goal-to-go efficiency (65.5%). Against the run, they allowed the 10th-fewest rushing touchdowns (13). The pass rush finished near the top of the NFL in all major categories and finished sixth in hurries (225), 10th in pressure rate (35.7%), and 13th in pressures (218). In the secondary, the team tied for the 12th-most interceptions (13) and allowed the 12th-fewest completions (354).
The team also had two Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists in OLB Jared Verse and DE Braden Fiske. Verse was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year at NFL Honors at the conclusion of last season. His 89 total pressures (including postseason) were the second-most pressures by a rookie behind Khalil Mack's 102 in 2014. Overall, Rams rookies tallied the most sacks (13.5), tackles for loss (26), pressures (139), and quarterback hits (30) across the NFL in 2024.
DE Kobie Turner set single-season career-highs in tackles (62), tackles for loss (10) and passes defended (four). He also notched 8.0 sacks and became the second player in franchise history to record at least 10.0 sacks in his first 19 career games, joining Aaron Donald. OLB Byron Young also tallied career-highs in tackles (62) and tackles for loss (12). Young's 112 pressures in his first two seasons are the fourth-most in the NFL since pressures began being tracked in 2012.
During the 2023 season, McVay coached his 100th career regular season game and his 0.64 winning percentage became the fifth-highest among active head coaches in their first 100 regular season games. McVay also led the Rams to a 10-7 record and a berth in the Wild Card Round.
The McVay-led offense finished the regular season seventh in yards per game (359.3), seventh in yards per play (5.6), 11th in rush yards per game (120.3), and 10th in pass yards per game (239.0). The Rams offense also finished eighth in third down conversion rate (42%), fourth in fourth down conversion rate (61.9%), fourth in red zone efficiency (63.6%), and eighth in points scored per game (23.76).
Stafford was voted to the Pro Bowl and finished 11th in passing yards (3,965), which ranks among the top-10 most in a single season in franchise history. He also finished 11th in passing touchdowns (24), 12th in completions (326), and 10th in passing first downs (187). With the help of McVay, Stafford passed Fran Tarkenton and moved to 11th on the NFL's all-time passing touchdown list and became the 11th player in NFL history to throw for 53,000 career passing yards.
Kyren Williams emerged into a Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection during the 2023 campaign. He finished third in rushing yards (1,144), sixth in yards per rush (5.0), and tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (12). He also tied for the sixth-most receiving touchdowns (three) among running backs.
McVay also guided Nacua to a record-breaking rookie season. Nacua set the record for most receptions and receiving yards by a rookie in a single season in NFL history. His 181 receiving yards in the Wild Card Round also set an NFL rookie record for the most in a playoff game as well as the most in franchise history during a Wild Card Round matchup. McVay guided Nacua to finish ninth in receptions (104) and fourth in receiving yards (1,486) to go along with Second-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod.
The Rams offensive line was among the best in the league in several categies during the 2023 season. The unit paved the way for one of the league's best rushing attacks and finished tied for sixth in sacks allowed (34), seventh in sack rate (5.5%), seventh in pressures allowed (213), and ninth in pressures allowed per dropback (33.5%).
The defense also made steady improvements during the and finished seventh in opponents completion percentage (60.8%), 12th in opponents passer rating (88.0), 12th in opponent rush yards per game, and 11th in opponent rushing touchdowns allowed.
Aaron Donald became an eight-time All-Pro selection, which tied for the most by a defensive player and tied for the fifth-most overall. He finished ninth in the NFL in pressures (84) during the regular season. Linebacker Ernest Jones also finished 11th in the NFL in tackles (145), which set a single-season franchise record.
Additionally, rookies such as Turner and Young burst onto the NFL scene under McVay's leadership in 2023. Turner's 9.0 sacks tied the franchise record for most by a rookie, tying Donald's total in 2014. He also became the only rookie in franchise history to finish the regular season as the team's sack leader. Young finished one sack short of the franchise rookie record mark, finishing with eight on the season.
In 2022, McVay helped several Rams players receive notable recognitions for their performances on the field. Donald was voted to his ninth career Pro Bowl and was named to the NFLPA All-Pro team while former Defensive Back Jalen Ramsey was voted to his sixth Pro Bowl. Additionally, in his lone season with the Rams, former Linebacker Bobby Wagner fell three tackles short of breaking the Rams' single-season tackle record (142).
Before sustaining an injury in Week 11, McVay helped Stafford record the highest completion percentage of his career (68.0%). He also supported former Rams Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who led the Rams on a game-winning drive against the Raiders in Week 14 despite joining the team only two days prior. Mayfield and McVay led the Rams on a 98-yard touchdown drive to win the game. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that was the longest go-ahead touchdown drive to begin in the final two minutes of a game in the last 45 years. Mayfield earned Player of the Week honors following the game.
Former Running Back Cam Akers eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in three consecutive games to close out the regular season and became the first Rams running back to have three consecutive 100+ yard rushing performances in the same season since Todd Gurley in 2015.
McVay also helped Tyler Higbee break the single-season franchise record for receptions by a tight end (72) and become the team's all-time leader in touchdowns for tight ends (20).
Under the leadership of McVay in 2022, the Rams' defense ranked among the best in the NFL and finished first in opponent red zone efficiency (44.4%), second in goal-to-go efficiency (53.3%), and fourth in fewest missed tackles (103). The Rams' defense also finished tied for seventh in interceptions (16), and ninth in defensive total rush EPA (42.97).
McVay produced his fifth-straight winning season with the Rams in 2021, which was the longest consecutive winning season streak since the Rams posted four-consecutive winning seasons from 1983-1986. The 12-5 record earned L.A. its fourth postseason appearance and second Super Bowl appearance in McVay's first five seasons leading the franchise which was capped off by a Super Bowl LVI victory in the Rams' home stadium. McVay became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl at the age of 36.
He also became the second-fastest coach in franchise history to reach the 50-win mark and was the youngest head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl during the 2018 campaign. He was the youngest coach to win AP Coach of the Year at the age of 31 and won 70% of his first 50 games, which is the sixth-best winning percentage of all-time among coaches with at least 50 games.
The Rams offense thrived during the 2021 season and in Stafford's first year under center. Under McVay's guidance, the Rams offense ranked in the top 10 in total offense and fifth in passing offense. Stafford threw for almost 5,000 yards and Cooper Kupp won the Triple Crown, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
The Rams would have sent four starters to the 2021 Pro Bowl had they not been preparing for Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. On offense, Kupp was selected to his first Pro Bowl. On defense, Ramsey earned his fifth straight Pro Bowl nod and Donald earned his eighth-straight Pro Bowl nod. Former Kicker Matt Gay was selected as the starter in his first Pro Bowl. The Rams also had four players selected as alternates including Matthew Stafford, former Tackle Andrew Whitworth, former Outside Linebacker Leonard Floyd and former Center Brian Allen. Kupp, Ramsey and Donald were All-Pro selections.
In a season that was anything but normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Rams defense flourished earning the league's No. 1 ranked unit and dominating in three different categories. The Rams defense held opposing offenses to only 16.8 points per game, 281.9 yards per game, 190.7 passing yards per game and held each opposing quarterback to under 300 net yards passing. McVay won his third-career postseason contest, this time against a familiar opponent on the road against the Seattle Seahawks in a Wild Card game before falling to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the Divisional Round.
In 2020, Donald became the third player in league history to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times. He was also named the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year for the second time and joined teammate Jalen Ramsey on the PFWA All-NFL Team. Donald finished the season with 13.5 sacks.
L.A. finished 10th in the league in rushing, averaging 126.1 yards per game led by rookie Cam Akers with a team-best 625 yards on the ground. The Rams offensive unit finished just outside of the top-10 in total offense, amassing 377 yards per game (11th) and passing offense, averaging 250.9 yards per game (13th).
In a win-and-in Week 17 contest against the Arizona Cardinals, McVay helped former Quarterback John Wolford earn his first-career win in his first-career NFL appearance and start. Wolford finished the game completing 22-of-38 passing attempts for 231 yards.
McVay's third season as head coach in 2019 produced his third-consecutive winning season with a 9-7 record. Three-consecutive winning seasons had not been accomplished by a Rams team since 1999-2001, and it was only the third time since 1980 the franchise accomplished the feat.
Additionally, McVay became the first head coach since 2016 to have a winning record in each of their first three seasons as a head coach and became the fourth Rams head coach to have a winning record in three-consecutive seasons.
In his third year working with former QB Jared Goff, McVay helped him throw for over 4,000 yards for the second-consecutive season, becoming the first quarterback in franchise history to do so. Goff also climbed up the Rams' passing leader board, closing out the season sixth on the franchise list.
Under McVay's guidance, the Rams had multiple receivers finish the season with over 1,000 receiving yards. Former WR Robert Woods posted his second-consecutive season with over 1,000 receiving yards, finishing with 1,134. Kupp posted his first season with over 1,000 receiving yards, totaling a team-best 1,161. The 2019 campaign was the first time since 1999-2002 the Rams had consecutive seasons with multiple receivers recording over 1,000 yards. Despite changes in personnel and position due to injuries, L.A.'s offensive front managed to post six games without allowing a sack, good for a single-season franchise record. The defense received a boost when L.A. acquired Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey via trade in Week 7 of the 2019 campaign. The defense went on to finish with the fourth-most sacks in the league (50.0) and was ranked 13th overall.
Following his second season as an NFL head coach, McVay ranked 17th on Fortune Magazine's World's Greatest Leaders Top-50 List. He was joined on the list by the likes of Bill Gates and Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The complete rankings are found in the May 2019 issue of Fortune.
The Rams defense proved stout down the stretch in 2018 and helped the team secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Rams held the Patriots offensive attack to only 13 points in Super Bowl LIII. The defense was led by Donald, who posted a franchise-best 20.5 sacks, the most ever by a defensive tackle. Donald recorded 183.5 sack yards, the most ever by a defender in a single season. As a unit, the Rams ranked sixth with 1.6 takeaways per game.
In his first season guiding the Rams, McVay completed one of the greatest offensive turnarounds in NFL history. He helped the Rams move from the 32nd-ranked scoring offense in 2016 to the league's top-scoring team in 2017, marking the first time in league history a team has gone from last to first in scoring. The first-year head coach led the Rams to an 11-5 record and their first NFC West title since the 2003 season. McVay guided the Rams to their first playoff berth since 2004.
Following his first season in L.A., McVay was named The Associated Press Coach of the Year, becoming the youngest head coach to ever win the award. Gurley brought home Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Donald was named the Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first time in the 45 year history of the awards there was a sweep of three of the league's top awards. The Rams placed eight players in the 2018 Pro Bowl, the most in a single season by the franchise since the 1999 campaign.
Under McVay's guidance in 2017, Goff flourished earning his first Pro Bowl appearance. Goff completed 296-of-477 (62.1 percent) of his passes for 3,804 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions posting a 100.5 QB rating on the season. Gurley led the league in scrimmage yards finishing the year with 2,093 yards, including 1,305 rushing yards and 788 receiving yards. Additionally, Gurley was the league's highest-scoring non-kicker posting 19 total touchdowns on the season.
The Rams' defense posted the fourth-most sacks (48.0), tied for sixth in interceptions (18) and finished the 2017 campaign fifth in total takeaways (28). The takeaways directly resulted in 126 points for L.A., the second-best total in the NFL.
In his first season as head coach, the Rams' special teams unit played an integral part in the team's success and was rewarded with a total of four special teamers being named to the Pro Bowl. The L.A. special teams unit was a top-10 finisher in 18-of-22 statistical categories in the 2017 special teams rankings.
Before joining the Rams, McVay completed his third season as Washington's offensive coordinator in 2016 after initially being promoted to the position on January 15, 2014. Prior to his promotion during the 2014 offseason, McVay spent three seasons as the team's tight ends coach (2011-13) and one as an offensive assistant (2010).
The 2016 Washington offensive unit broke many franchise records and ranked in the top-three in a number of statistical categories. The Washington offense became the first unit in franchise history to average over 400 yards per game (403.4) and notched a franchise record 6,545 total net yards.
Former Commanders Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished the year with single-season team records in completions (406) and passing yards (4,917) and matched his team record for 300-yard passing games (seven). His 4,917 passing yards ranked third in the NFL in 2016 and are the 15th-most in a season in NFL history. Cousins closed out the season ranked second in the NFL in passing yards per game (297.4), passing yards per play (7.84) and yards per play (6.4), in addition to being the league's third ranked offensive team, averaging 403.4 yards per game.
From 2015-16, Cousins threw for 9,083 yards, the fourth highest output by a quarterback trailing only Drew Brees (10,078), Matt Ryan (9,535) and Philip Rivers (9,178).
The Washington offense had eight players finish the season with at least 500 yards from scrimmage (DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder, Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis and Matt Jones), tying the 2011 New Orleans Saints for the most in a single-season in NFL history.
McVay's group posted a breakout campaign in his second year as offensive coordinator in 2015, including record-setting performances by Cousins and tight end Jordan Reed. McVay's scheme and tutelage helped Cousins break the Washington records for attempts (543), completions (379), passing yards (4,166) and 300-yard passing games (seven) in a single season. Reed was a direct beneficiary of McVay's work, spending 2013 as a member of his unit during McVay's time as tight ends coach and being a focal point of the offense in 2015 when Reed recorded 87 receptions for 952 yards (both team records for a tight end) with 11 receiving touchdowns (one shy of the team record) in 2015.
Collectively, McVay's 2015 offense recorded Top 10 rankings in third down percentage (43.5, fifth in the NFL), red zone scoring percentage (61.2, eighth), yards per play (5.6, 10th) and points per game (24.3, 10th). Washington also led the NFL with a team-record 69.5 completion percentage in 2015.
In his first season as offensive coordinator in 2014, McVay helped the Washignton offense to a Top 10 league ranking in yards per play (5.7) despite starting three different quarterbacks. His work with the three passers was instrumental in setting a team record for completion percentage (66.5 percent, later broken in 2015) and helping facilitate the explosive debut season of wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Jackson averaged a league-best 20.9 yards per reception and became only the fourth player in team history to lead the NFL in that category.
In 2013, McVay played a crucial role in Reed's development, as the then-rookie compiled 45 receptions for 499 yards – both Washington's single-season rookie tight end records – despite Reed playing in only nine games. Under McVay's tutelage, Reed joined Chris Cooley (2004) as the only Washington tight ends named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
During Washington's NFC East championship season in 2012, McVay's unit was productive despite losing starting TE Fred Davis to a torn Achilles tendon in Week 7. Davis had led the team in both receptions (24) and receiving yards (325) through seven games before being placed on the reserve/injured list.
In 2011, McVay played an integral role in Davis' emergence, as the then fourth-year tight end surpassed his previous career highs despite playing in only 12 games. Davis caught 59 passes for 796 yards, the second-highest total on the team in both categories. Before missing the final four games of the season, Davis was on pace to set a franchise record in receiving yards by a tight end and was on pace to post the first 1,000-yard receiving season by a tight end in Washington's history.
McVay served as an offensive assistant for Washington in 2010 in addition to working with the tight ends during the final four weeks of the season. The Washington offense ranked eighth in the NFL in passing yards per game (244.6) and tight end Chris Cooley ranked second among NFL tight ends in receptions (77) and third in receiving yards (849). The offensive unit also set a franchise record for completions in a season (349), and registered a touchdown pass in 15 consecutive games for the first time in team history.
McVay joined the Washington coaching staff prior to the 2010 season after an undefeated regular season with the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League (UFL). The Tuskers finished a perfect 6-0 before losing in the UFL's inaugural championship game. McVay originally entered the National Football League as an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008.
During his time in Tampa Bay, McVay worked closely with wide receiver Antonio Bryant, who recorded career highs in receptions (83), receiving yards (1,248), and touchdowns (seven), en route to winning The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award.
McVay graduated from Miami University (Ohio) where he played wide receiver from 2004-07, earning Miami's Scholar-Athlete Award in 2007. McVay's statue was unveiled in the university's "Cradle of Coaches". His grandfather, John, served in various roles – including vice president/director of football operations from 1983-94 – for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979-95, overseeing five Super Bowl championship squads and earning induction into the 49ers Hall of Fame in 2013.
