The Rams Head Coach, 38-year-old Sean McVay, has ripened into a highly-regarded veteran coach. A true wunderkind, he became the youngest ever NFL head coach when the Los Angeles Rams hired him at the age of 30 in January 2017. As he prepares for his eighth season leading the team, McVay’s accolades continue to accumulate. Having guided the Los Angeles Rams to victory in Super Bowl LVI, he has now also earned recognition from his players as one of the top coaches in the league.
Players Association Gives McVay an “A” Grade, and Rates the Rams Coach as the 4th Best in the League
The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) rated Sean McVay the fourth best coach in the NFL. This acknowledgment holds significant value as it originates directly from the players within the NFL.
What Are NFLPA Report Cards?
The NFLPA report cards assess and evaluate NFL teams, facilities, coaches, and more through player-centric ratings and grades. These evaluations cover various aspects such as the quality and flavor of the food offered by teams, the suitability of hot tubs, and the comfort of team transportation. Additionally, owners and coaches are subject to evaluation. The primary objective of these report cards is to enhance the overall experience of NFL players.
As reported by USA Today:
“[D]efensive lineman and three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt [said] NFL players take two assignments more seriously than other tasks they are asked to participate in: the selection of team captains and the NFL Players Association’s team and facility report cards.
This year, the teams were evaluated by a total of 1,706 players, accounting for approximately 77% of all players in the league. This marks an increase from the previous year’s participation rate of 60%.
Some eye-opening grades were meted out for the 2023 season:
The coaches and ownership of the Kansas City Chiefs received wildly disparate grades:
The back-to-back defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs were a clear indicator that coaches and ownership are often not viewed in the same light. Head coach Andy Reid received an A+ from players, while owner Clark Hunt got a F in willingness to invest in team facilities. The Chiefs finished 31st overall due to the quality of care players received from the training staff and the outdated facilities.
The Miami Dolphins received the top overall team grade. Per the NFLPA, “Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was the highest-rated owner in the NFL for his willingness to invest in the facilities, and Miami received straight As.”
Players ranked the Washington Commanders the worst team overall based on 11 categories involving working conditions.
When Did the NFLPA Being Releasing Report Cards?
The NFLPA report cards are in their second year of existence, and despite being a relatively new initiative, NFLPA President J.C. Tretter, a former NFL player from 2013 to 2021 with a collegiate background in the Ivy League, affirms that these report cards have already yielded noticeable and favorable outcomes.
The Attributes that Make McVay a Grade “A” Coach
96% of players feel Sean McVay is efficient with their time. Additionally, “players feel that Sean McVay is very willing to listen to the locker room.”
Former Rams great, OL Andrew Whitworth, has offered insights into some of the characteristics that make McVay a top-notch coach:
On the “This Is Football” podcast, former NFL offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth told a great story about what sets Sean McVay apart in this category.
The year was 2017, and Whitworth had just joined the Los Angeles Rams after 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Rams had just made Sean McVay the youngest head coach in the NFL’s modern history, and the 30-year-old, first-time head coach had grand plans for how he was going to spend his first OTAs.
He might’ve been tempted to justify his hiring by dazzling his new players with the craziest, newest offensive schemes he could possibly concoct, but McVay did the exact opposite.
McVay didn’t talk football at all and, according to Whitworth — who was, and still is, five years older than his new head coach — it was the smartest thing he could’ve done.
“We spent the first hour of team meetings for the first four weeks he had the job explaining what football character looked like, what communication looked like — visual cues. What are your visual cues in how you communicate as a teammate, your body language — looking upset, looking happy, showing energy, showing passion, showing frustration. What are the ways you can communicate and show passion in the way you communicate verbally?” Whitworth said.
“We spent time, not talking about football in my opinion, we spent time talking about what it means to be a good person and a good football player in general. When you start with a foundation that’s built on, how do I do the right things, handle myself the right way and support the people around me to where we all elevate together, I think you’ve got a good chance of having a pretty good football team.”
Whitworth said many head coaches fail because they don’t hold their players accountable because, in his words too, they’re afraid.
“A lot of teams that suck right now, it’s because their head coaches are scared to challenge their players as men to act like men,” Whitworth said.
The most impressive thing @AndrewWhitworth saw in the NFL? Sean McVay's first OTAs as a head coach where he only taught character. Great insight on McVay's success. "A lot of teams that suck right now it's because their head coaches are scared to challenge their players as men." pic.twitter.com/0fP0pGw5Pa
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) December 13, 2023
McVay, being one of the NFL’s youngest coaches, has established himself as one of the league’s most accomplished individuals. Undoubtedly, his exceptional skills contribute significantly to his widespread acclaim.
Although rumors circulated about McVay contemplating retirement after the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory, McVay has made it clear that he intends to continue on as the Rams’ head coach. The 2023 season re-energized him, and he is committed for the long term.