There's a joke going on in the National Football League. "How do you become NFL head coach?" The answer: "You must know Sean McVay." Of course it's not quite that easy - not so outrageous. Because the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams is the league's trendsetter: young, offensive, successful.
On the NFL website, he is referred to as the "Coaching Supernova", the news site "Business Insider" calls Sean McVay an "offensive mastermind who has taken the NFL by storm". And although he has only been in office for two years, his name has been featured several times in the NFL history books: youngest head coach, youngest coach of the year, youngest coach with a playoff victory.
Thought around the corner
McVay was just 30 years old when the Rams appointed him head coach on January 12, 2017. Between 2004 and 2016, the club had won a maximum of half of its 16 preliminary games - but often far less. In the last year before McVay the balance was 4:16.
It was no surprise that coach Jeff Fisher had to leave. But it was certainly a bit of a surprise to see McVay succeed him. "You can not say that there was a lot of demand for McVay, the Rams got it because they were thinking around the corner," says Albert Breer, NFL expert of Sports Illustrated magazine.
McVay's Vita was indeed clear. His grandfather John once worked as a vice president for the San Francisco 49ers when they won five Super Bowls. But that did not open doors for Sean McVay. He had to work his way up - and did so at the Washington Redskins, where he made it from Assistant Tight End Coach to Offensive Coordinator. McVay refined the attacking game so much that the 2016 Redskins Offensive set numerous club records.
Harmless Rams are now real rams
When McVay started in LA, quarterback Jared Goff immediately felt a "fresh, new energy." Defensive tackle Aaron Donald gushes about McVay's "winning mentality" and the philosophy of not allowing players comfort zones: "He wants us to be responsible for our mistakes, which is exactly what we need."
McVay's first record of 11: 5 wins has been the best of the Rams since 2003. Within a year, he has made the best attack from the league's weakest offensive. Running back Todd Gurley has been voted "offensive player of the year". It has long been clear: the harmless Rams have become real rams under McVay and now want to move into the Super Bowl. It still lacks a victory on Sunday at the New Orleans Saints. If that succeeds, McVay would be the youngest coach in NFL history in the final.
Everyone wants a McVay success story
His success story has sparked a trend towards a young, offensive coach, who announces the moves himself and does not leave that to his offensive coordinator. "Everyone tries to think outside the box and not just commit people to what they've achieved so far, and because McVay has worked, other teams are now taking the risk," says NFL expert Breer.
In early January, eight clubs were looking for new head coaches. The Arizona Cardinals fetched the 39-year-old cliff Kingsbury, who previously coached only in college. Kingsbury is said to be a friend of McVay. Green Bay now relies on Matt LaFleur, 39, who worked as an Offensive Coordinator for McVay in 2017. And 35-year-old Zac Taylor, currently Rams quarterback coach, will head the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of the season.
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Sean McVay: The NFL Wonder Trainer20 years ago, Sean McVay was named NFL Mike Martz. He conquered the league with his innovative and offensive style of play. Martz was offensive coordinator in 1999, when the Rams (then still in St. Louis) won the Super Bowl and then until 2005 head coach. Due to their thrilling offensive Martz's Mannen went down in NFL history as "The Greatest Show on Turf".
In the face of the McVay-Mania the former trendsetter shakes his head. "Now they believe in the NFL that there are quite a few McVays, but they do not exist, Sean is unique," says Martz, adding, "Just because somebody worked with him does not mean he's the next Sean McVay It's not that easy. "
How far the magic of McVay reaches, will show now. Among the remaining four coaches, he is the chick that meets the establishment. Saints coach Sean Payton is 55 years old. In the Super Bowl the opponents would be Andy Reid (Kansas City / 60) or Bill Belichick (New England / 66). Each of them has spent more years on America's football fields than McVay in this world.