The NFL has a player-coaching issue. There are many former players who are interested in extending their time in the NFL through coaching. The problem is that those opportunities rarely come about, especially for non-quarterbacks.
However, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay remains at the forefront of coaching evolution. A big reason is the wide net he casts during his search for coaches. McVay looks everywhere, establishing a recent trend of hiring collegiate coaches and former Bill Belichick assistants.
McVay also benefits from being one of the most consistent head coach creators in the NFL. In an interview with USA TODAY, Rams legend Marshall Faulk spoke about the lack of opportunities for players to make the jump into coaching, but he praised McVay for his efforts.
“We don’t have the opportunity of (coach Mike LaFleur) who just got the (Arizona) Cardinals head coaching job who I barely knew was with the (Los Angeles) Rams you know?” Faulk said. “That’s a hell of an opportunity. And I’m gonna say (Rams) coach (Sean) McVay, he’s done a really good job of getting guys ready to get jobs … It’s just weird that the Atlanta Falcons would fire a guy (Morris) who had a better record than the guy that they hired (Stefanski).”
That’s a snippet of Faulk’s larger point about coaching hires and the difference in career trajectories between ethnic groups.
For the Rams, they keep things simple. McVay ensures that to maintain his ecosystem of positivity. To supplement the ecosystem, McVay has begun to look inwards to find his next crop of coaches. Former Rams players Robert Woods and Brian Allen are on the staff in an official capacity.
Allen, who was essentially a volunteer last season, has opened the door for others to follow in his footsteps if they wish to get their feet wet. Woods, who has never coached before, is the current assistant wide receivers coach, establishing a player-to-coach pipeline in Los Angeles.
Trends like this are how McVay and company adjust to the times.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Sean McVay continues to open doors for former NFL players in coaching
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
