The young architect behind the Los Angeles Rams' resurgence

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2017, the Los Angeles Rams hired a 30-year-old coach who would fundamentally change the NFL's leadership landscape. Sean McVay didn't just revitalize a franchise; he triggered a shift toward younger, offensive-minded coaching across the entire league.

Sean McVay took over the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, marking a significant turning point for the franchise. During his inaugural year, he converted a squad with the NFL's worst scoring output the prior season into the 2017 leader in points. This turnaround led the Rams to their first winning record and division title since 2003, and their first playoff appearance since 2004. Before his success in Los Angeles, he held various roles with the Washington Redskins and the Florida Tuskers. He also served as an offensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

McVay's impact extends beyond immediate statistics. His success is credited with spawning the "Sean McVay effect," a phenomenon where NFL teams became increasingly inclined to hire younger, offensive-minded head coaches. His professional journey involves numerous historic feats, such as securing a Super Bowl title in 2022 as the league's youngest head coach. His achievements include being named the NFL Coach of the Year. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest head coach to reach a Super Bowl and win it.

The Rams' path to this modern success involved decades of movement and varying fortunes. After winning championships in 1945 and 1951, the team moved to Los Angeles in 1946. Following a period of decline and a relocation to St. Louis in 1995, the team returned to Los Angeles after NFL owners approved the move in January 2016. McVay has since become the winningest head coach in the franchise's history as of 2024. The franchise's history includes a notable defensive unit from the 1960s known as the Fearsome Foursome. Additionally, the team was forced to suspend operations during 1943 because of the Second World War.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How the Los Angeles Rams overcame a mid-season slump to reach the playoffs
• The coach who ended a decades-long drought, only to face a sudden exit
• How a high-scoring offense propelled the Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl LIII
• How a versatile running back transformed from NFL star into elite coach
• The high-scoring offensive architect who broke the Super Bowl era record
• Is there an ideal size for a secondary school?
• The polar expedition that was snubbed by the British establishment
• The ancient manual that claims the universe was built from letters and numbers
• The Scottish clan was never just a matter of blood and ancestry
• Why is the French department of Seine-Saint-Denis frequently called the 93?
• Born as a one-off anniversary celebration, the Scottish Challenge Cup became a permanent fixture.
• Why the label Semitic evolved from a linguistic classification into a tool for prejudice

More in Peoples & civilisations · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics