It has become an annual tradition in the NFL. Every offseason, rival franchises aggressively raid the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff in hopes of capturing a piece of Sean McVay’s offensive brilliance.
Former offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was the most recent example after he took the Arizona Cardinals job, but there have been several others. From Zac Taylor and Kevin O’Connell to Matt LaFleur and Raheem Morris, McVay’s coaching tree has grown into one of the most prolific and successful in modern football history.
While outsiders often attribute this phenomenon entirely to McVay’s sharp football mind, Rams legend Andrew Whitworth recently revealed that the real secret lies within the culture of the team. McVay doesn’t just design plays; he actively forces his assistants to grow by relinquishing the spotlight.
“Sean isn’t one of these people where he’s the only voice,” Whitworth told Pro Football Network. “To give you an example: Every coach has a moment in the day or a meeting where it’s their job to give the presentation. It’s their job to set the scene for what we’re doing this day. Every one of them has a different part where they get put in front of the room.
“That’s why when you say, ‘Hey, Sean McVay has a lot of guys who go on to be head coaches,’ well, guess what? He’s been putting them in that scenario over and over and over again the whole entire time they coached for him. He wants guys to grow.”
This intentional approach ensures that assistant coaches are actively developing their public speaking, structural presentation, and leadership qualities daily, rather than just typical assistant responsibilities. By the time a coordinator or position coach leaves Los Angeles for a head coaching interview, they have already logged hundreds of hours commanding a room of professional athletes.
According to Whitworth, this lack of ego is exactly what defines McVay’s philosophy as an elite program builder. He wants his staff to succeed, even if it means losing them to a competitor down the road.
“His version of leadership is, ‘Hey, man, if I can’t produce other leaders, then how good of a leader am I really?'” Whitworth said. “And so he’s not scared to give you the floor and give you a chance to lead.”
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Ex-Rams star explains why Sean McVay’s coaching tree is so deep
Reporting by Oliver G., Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
