Sean McVay

Sean McVay (born January 24, 1986, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.) is an American football head coach who, since 2017, has coached the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL. McVay has set several age-related records, most notably becoming the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl (2022).

Early years and college

McVay is the eldest child of Cindy McVay and Tim McVay, who was a defensive back in college. Sean McVay’s paternal grandfather, John McVay, coached the New York Giants and later became an executive with the San Francisco 49ers; during his tenure (1979–95) with the 49ers, the team won five Super Bowls.

Sean McVay was born in Ohio, but the family later moved several times because of his dad’s job with Cox Television. Growing up, McVay played tennis and soccer but garnered the most attention as a football player. While at Marist High School in Atlanta, he played quarterback and defensive back. As a senior in 2003, he led the team to a state title and was named Georgia’s Player of the Year. McVay was not known for having a strong arm, but he compensated with quickness and toughness. In 2004 the 5-foot 10-inch (1.78-meter) McVay enrolled at Miami University in Ohio. He played wide receiver on the school’s football team, but a series of injuries limited his game time. He graduated in 2008.

NFL coaching

McVay began working his way up the NFL coaching ranks after he was hired by Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden as an assistant wide receivers coach at the age of 22 in 2008. McVay’s family history helped; his grandfather had hired Gruden’s father, Jim Gruden, as an assistant college football coach years before. In 2009 McVay took a brief break from the NFL to serve as the wide receivers coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League.

In 2010 the Washington Redskins (now Commanders) made McVay their assistant tight ends coach, and he became known for his incredible work ethic. He worked his way up to Washington offensive coordinator in 2014 under new head coach Jay Gruden, Jon Gruden’s brother. In that role, McVay helped transform Kirk Cousins into a franchise quarterback. In 2016 Washington averaged more than 400 yards per game for the first time in its history. The team also set a franchise record with nearly 300 pass yards per game.

Los Angeles Rams

After three seasons as the Redskins’ offensive coordinator, McVay was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams in January 2017, shortly before his 31st birthday. He became the youngest head coach in modern NFL history. McVay inherited a struggling franchise that was coming off a 4–12 finish in 2016, with the lowest-ranked offense in the league.

McVay’s impact was immediate. In his first season as coach, the Rams finished 11–5 and earned the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2004. McVay guided young quarterback Jared Goff to a league-best 12.9 yards per catch. But the season came to a disappointing end in a 26–13 first-round playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons. In 2018 the Rams were even better, finishing 13–3 to tie with the New Orleans Saints for the best record in the league. Los Angeles beat the Saints in the National Football Conference championship game but lost Super Bowl LIII to the New England Patriots, which ended 13–3. It was a disappointing end for the Rams, but making the Super Bowl in just his second season was a notable accomplishment for McVay, who at 33 was the youngest head coach in Super Bowl history.

The Rams missed the playoffs the next year but rebounded in 2020 with a 10–6 record. However, the team lost to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs. After the season, the Rams made a blockbuster trade of quarterbacks, dealing Goff and several draft choices to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford. It was a “win-now” move for the Rams, and it paid off, as the team went 12–5 in 2021 and advanced to Super Bowl LVI (2022). There Stafford led the Rams on a 72-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes of the game to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23–20. It was just the second Super Bowl for the Rams in franchise history, and, at age 36, McVay became the youngest coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl.

Los Angeles had a disappointing 2022 season, finishing 5–12—the worst record in history for a defending Super Bowl champion. After the season, McVay mulled a break from coaching but decided to stay. The following year the team improved to 10–7 and returned to the playoffs but lost in the wild-card round to the Lions.

Personal life

In 2022 McVay married Veronika Khomyn, a model and realtor who was born in Ukraine. The couple later had a son.