Sean McVay has quickly become one of the most successful head coaches in the NFL. With the Los Angeles Rams preparing to take on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, here’s a look back at McVay’s background, including his playing career and football journey.
Inside Sean McVay’s Football Journey From Player to Coach
McVay’s playing career began at Marist School in Brookhaven, Georgia, during high school. McVay was a four-year starter, playing both quarterback and defensive back.
During his senior year, McVay led Marist School to a 14-1 overall record and a state championship. In the same season, McVay beat out NFL Hall-of-Fame WR Calvin Johnson for the Georgia 4A Offensive Player of the Year, a significant feat.
Following high school, McVay attended Miami (OH). McVay made the switch to WR, where he recorded 39 receptions for 312 yards across three seasons. Unfortunately, that’s where McVay’s playing career came to an end. He graduated a year later and immediately leaped into coaching in the NFL.
McVay’s Coaching Rise From Assistant to Super Bowl Champ
McVay made his coaching debut in 2008, his first job being as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ assistant WR coach. The following year, McVay left the NFL for the United Football League, where he spent one season as the lead WR coach for the Florida Tuskers.
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In 2010, McVay returned to the NFL, serving as an offensive assistant for the Washington Redskins. He was soon promoted to the team’s TE coach from 2011-2013, before being promoted again to Offensive Coordinator in 2014.
McVay served as the Redskins’ offensive coordinator through 2016 before becoming the Rams’ head coach in 2017. McVay quickly proved to be an offensive genius. His top-of-the-line offensive play-calling, play-designing, and leadership earned him the Coach of the Year award in his first season with Los Angeles.
Overall, as a head coach, McVay has posted a 92-57 regular-season record. He led his Rams to seven playoff appearances in nine seasons and reached the NFC Championship three separate times. His first came in 2018, when the Rams defeated the Saints, before ultimately losing to the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
In 2021, McVay and Los Angeles returned to the Super Bowl and didn’t let the opportunity go to waste. The Rams took down the Bengals 23-20, giving McVay his first Super Bowl and making him, at the time, the youngest coach in NFL history (36) to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
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Now, in the 2025-2026 NFL season, McVay and his Rams find themselves with yet another great opportunity. On Sunday, they head to Seattle to take on the Seahawks, with the winner heading to the Super Bowl.
McVay has consistently delivered in big spots before. With the No. 1-ranked Offense according to PFSN’s NFL Offense Impact Metric, it will be interesting to see how his offense fares against the Seahawks on Sunday.
