Sean McVay's personal growth is still fueling Rams' success

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay stands on the field as another day of training camp unfolds. He is ever-present, ensuring his availability to both coaches and players.

But he is also the standard-bearer. Rams newcomers quickly learn what those standards are. If they misstep, McVay will quietly remind them.

When he nearly walked away from the game after a disastrous 2022 season, McVay dove deep to investigate his reasons for pursuing a career in football. Competition means winning some and losing some.

But after a 12-loss season, still the lone losing campaign of his now nine-year tenure, he found himself unable to shake his disappointment. McVay had to change his focus. It's not all about winning.

Happiness in life is not about the destination. It's about the journey. In the 2023 offseason, Sean McVay rewrote his own script. That mental shift has helped him to trust himself even when he goes against the grain. Ultimately, McVay learned to do it his way.

Sean McVay's transformation has revitalized Rams franchise

College football fans will recognize the name Chris Petersen, the former head coach at both Boise State and Washington. He has a knack for getting the most from his players and coaches. And he was one of McVay's key mentors.

"Chris Petersen always used to say to me, ‘It’s really important that all our players know they’ll never meet the enemy on the sideline,'" McVay shared in a recent interview.

Resiliency has not always been a Sean McVay quality. He was volatile in his early years as an NFL HC. That 2022 season forced him to change. McVay and the team had plummeted from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

Part of McVay's transformation required reconceiving his role. He was not just the coach. He was the pace car. He was the visionary for a group that was scanning for true leadership.

As he became more comfortable in his new shoes, his team grew. In 2023, a band of young players began to exceed expectations. The Rams finished 10-7 and made it back to the playoffs.

The reason was simple. McVay gave them clarity on the team's goals and then allowed his players to accomplish them.

"Our job is to provide clarity for our players, so that they can go out there and play as quick, as decisive as possible," he reiterated Sunday. Sticking to a more hands-off approach not as easy as it sounds for a meticulous, detail-oriented head coach like himself.

But this is the way. McVay surrounded himself with experts. Now, he trusts them. The results are unmistakably positive. As the stakes skyrocket and pressure heats up, McVay stays as cool as a cucumber.

He gets by with a little help from his friends. And he has finally learned to enjoy the journey, too.

As always, thanks for reading.

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