NFL: Each team’s greatest head coach in franchise history

Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay (2017-Present)

The history of the Los Angeles Rams has been one with a lot of ups and downs. They have had times where they were the best in the league, as well as times where they were in the cellar.

Following nine-straight losing seasons from 1990 through 1998, the Rams found some magic in 1999 when Dick Vermeil led them to a Super Bowl win. That remains the only one in their history, which gives him a vote for the best coach. Another deserving credit is Mike Martz, who succeeded Vermeil and took the Rams to another Super Bowl two years later.

There’s also George Allen, who was 49-17-4 in five seasons. Much like Vermeil, he took over a struggling team and ended up turning them around. Allen even won the NFL Coach of the Year Award in 1967.

However, the nod here goes to current coach Sean McVay, who inherited a team that was 4-12 in 2016 and turned them into back-to-back NFC West champions. He even got them into the Super Bowl in his second season in 2018, although they did come up short to the New England Patriots.

In all, McVay has done very well so far on the Rams. While his tenure suggests it’s premature to call him the best coach they have ever had, the fact is McVay has changed more than just the Rams’ fortunes. Not only has he made his team a force, but McVay has NFL owners and general managers completely changing how they make their head-coaching hires.

In the past, teams have gravitated toward coaches with previous coaching experience — and usually a lot of age. In 2017, Los Angeles hired McVay who was just 30-years-old then. His youth raised eyebrows, but his quick success has other young coaches getting hired as well ‚— especially ones who have worked with McVay.

McVay’s coaching tree has already hit the NFL as two of his former assistants were hired for head coaching jobs as 36-year-old Zac Taylor was the choice for the Cincinnati Bengals and 39-year-old Matt LaFleur was hired to coach the Green Bay Packers.