After the Rams employed Sean McVay in 2017, basic supervisor Les Snead was wanting to see the 30-year-old’s head-coaching course of at work.
Throughout McVay’s first seven seasons, Snead usually noticed McVay within the coach’s workplace, busily scheming performs. Studying motivational books. Assembly with coaches, gamers and crew executives.
So Snead was shocked final August when he witnessed one thing completely surprising:
McVay making faces and cooing child speak on a video name.
“Of all the things I thought I would see Sean McVay do,” Snead stated, “that was not on the list.”
On Oct. 24, 2023, McVay and spouse Veronika welcomed a new child son, Jordan John McVay.
It was the most recent private milestone for McVay, who turned the youngest coach in fashionable NFL historical past when proprietor Stan Kroenke signed off on making him the Rams’ on-field chief.
NFL followers since have watched McVay actually develop up on the sideline whereas main the Rams to 5 playoff appearances, two Tremendous Bowl journeys and a Tremendous Bowl title to finish the 2021-22 season.
McVay, 38, additionally has come of age off the sphere.
McVay and Veronika married in June 2022. The following season, because the Rams and McVay suffered by the worst Tremendous Bowl hangover in historical past, McVay contemplated stepping away from teaching.
However the impending delivery of his son, and the chance to serve for instance of persevering by exhausting instances, factored into his resolution to return.
Veronika Khomyn and Sean McVay arrive on the Critics Selection Awards on March 13, 2022.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP)
Being a husband, and a father to Jordan, McVay stated, has given him “real purpose” off the sphere.
Additionally on it.
“I definitely think it does make you a better coach,” he stated.
On the 2017 NFL homeowners conferences, a reporter requested Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll how he thought McVay would fare with the Rams.
Carroll, a grandfather properly into his third stint as an NFL head coach, stated there was no query that the intense and educated McVay would excel.
The challenges, Carroll famous, may come off the sphere as a result of almost all NFL coaches begin households as school or professional assistants, earlier than they ascend to the highest job. McVay would navigate that path with the load of a complete professional soccer group on his shoulders.
One 12 months into fatherhood, McVay is managing fantastic.
“I’m still getting a good amount of sleep,” quipped the notoriously early riser.
McVay stated his late grandfather John, a former NFL coach and longtime govt for the San Francisco 49ers, his father Tim and uncles Jim and John set nice examples as fathers and mentors. So did former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, different present and former assistants and gamers reminiscent of former Rams offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth.
“The way that they lead their families is unbelievable to me,” McVay stated.
Morris, now the coach of the Atlanta Falcons, turned a father in 2010 earlier than his second season as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Morris, who labored with McVay at Tampa Bay and in addition in Washington earlier than becoming a member of McVay’s Rams employees in 2021, usually advised McVay that turning into a father adjustments what occurs when coaches cross the edge of their dwelling or greet household after a sport.
Raheem Morris, the previous Rams defensive coordinator and present Falcons head coach, has labored subsequent to Sean McVay, proper, for years.
(Rick Scuteri / Related Press)
“You’re teaching your kids a lesson from that point on,” stated Morris, who has three kids. “Even when they’re at Jordan’s age, and you come in the house and you see those eyes looking at you, it’s a different deal.
“You realize why you’re doing it and what you’re doing it for. And everything else is secondary when you look at those kids in that moment.”
Whitworth, a father of 4, signed with the Rams in 2017 and performed till 2021, when he was 40.
Being a father has supplied the obsessively goal-oriented McVay one thing new to “chase,” Whitworth stated.
“He’s got a chance to look at Jordan every day and look at Veronika and say, ‘I would love to freak out about how practice went today, I would love to freak out about where we are as a team right now — that’s normally what I would do,’” stated Whitworth, now a broadcaster for Amazon Prime. “‘But in this moment, I’m going to put Jordan in my lap and I’m going to have some perspective. … This is my priority and I want to be great at it.’”
McVay and Veronika, who was born in Ukraine, met when McVay was an assistant coach in Washington and she or he was a pupil at George Mason College in Virginia.
McVay spoke usually about eager to develop into a father, however truly turning into one “transformed” him in significant methods, amplifying qualities he already possessed, Veronika stated. He’s now extra affected person, empathetic, considerate and compassionate at dwelling and at work, she stated.
“He prioritizes quality family time and being fully present even when he has those long days at the facility,” stated Veronika, a actual property agent. “He’s just so excited to come home and see our little man. And Jordan always can put a smile on his face even on those toughest days.”
Within the offseason, McVay made it a degree to be dwelling in time to assist put Jordan to mattress. Through the season, it’s extra of a problem, however Friday nights and breakfast earlier than dwelling video games are put aside for household time.
“The things that he really cherishes in his life, the things that he loves — they’re not all in one basket anymore.”
— Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, on coach Sean McVay as a father
And fatherly duties reminiscent of altering diapers.
“I’ve had some moments where I’m holding him, and you look down and you’re like, ‘OK, how did that end up on me?’” McVay stated, laughing. “I get down and dirty with that.”
McVay additionally prioritizes being current when working from his dwelling workplace.
“He comes in and out and says, ‘I need a mental break,’” Veronika stated.
Nonetheless, soccer is rarely too removed from his thoughts.
“Whenever he’s got an idea in his head, he’ll say, ‘I have to run back in there. I’ll be right back,’” she stated, laughing.
Rams coach Sean McVay greets his mother and father Tim and Cindy forward of the beginning of Tremendous Bowl LIII.
(Jamie Squire / Getty Pictures)
McVay’s mother and father see similarities of their son and grandson. McVay’s behavior of being in fixed movement dates to his childhood.
“He was a busy guy,” his father stated.
So is Jordan, who usually chases McVay in a rolling child walker.
“He’s very active like Sean, but he’s very chill like Veronika,” stated McVay’s mom, Cindy, who paused a beat earlier than laughing and including. “And Sean was never chill.”
In 2022, because the Rams stumbled to a 5-12 file, Rams executives watched McVay battle to navigate the crew’s faltering play.
Afterward, with broadcast networks beckoning, McVay contemplated taking a break from teaching.
His son’s impending arrival led him to rethink.
“I never would have been able to look at him and say, ‘You know, when tough times hit, you push through it and grow from adversity,’” McVay stated. “If I had run away from it, it would be, “Do as I say, not as I did.’”
Final season, the Rams began 3-6 however McVay stored himself collectively. Jordan was born within the midst of the crew’s second-half turnaround that resulted in a 10-7 file and a playoff berth.
Fatherhood helped McVay stability that “kind of maniacal” sense that additionally makes him an awesome coach, Rams president Kevin Demoff stated.
“For someone who’s always searched for balance,” Demoff stated, “this helps provide it in a much more natural way without searching.”
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula has identified McVay since they had been school teammates at Miami of Ohio. They’ve coached collectively since 2017.
McVay was at all times nice round youngsters, stated Shula, the daddy of two. However he didn’t have a real idea of fatherhood and caring for a child till he started to undergo it himself.
“He’s still getting here at 3 in the morning, so I don’t think it’s changed anything with the work ethic or the motivation,” Shula stated. “But I think just the internal joy and doing it for others, I think that’s really what you see.”
Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, left, sees adjustments in Sean McVay the daddy.
(Kyusung Gong / Related Press)
There is also exterior pleasure.
“When he gets that picture texted to him or he’s on Facetime,” stated offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, a father of two, “it just instantly lights him up.”
McVay’s enthusiasm whereas sharing video of his son apparently rivals his pleasure when evaluating and discussing a high draft prospect.
“He loves being able to say, ‘Look how wired this guy is!’” Snead stated. “‘Look how alert he is. Look how intense, urgent, enthusiastic and passionate he is.’
“It’s really cool.”
All through the primary 15 years of his teaching profession, McVay noticed gamers not solely as extremely expert athletes but additionally as creating males from a wide range of backgrounds.
His view additional developed when he turned a father, Veronika stated.
“He sees them as young people who are navigating their own struggles and triumphs,” she stated, “and he understands now in a way that only a parent can, that each kid out there has their own story and needs support in their unique ways.”
Rams gamers, lots of them additionally younger fathers, famous refined adjustments in McVay since he turned a mother or father.
“Something about his energy,” stated security John Johnson III, a father of a son. “His spirit is kind of different, kind of like he’s doing this for somebody, like he has more purpose.
“I kind of feel that vibe.”
McVay nonetheless pulls gamers apart for chats about their roles on the crew. Or their assignments on the sphere. However now kids additionally come into play.
“I’m much more inclined to ask about those things,” McVay stated, “because I’m now that dad showing the pictures and videos.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, a father to 4 women, stated “it’s football all the time” when the Rams are at work getting ready for the season or opponents. However there’s additionally time to pause.
“You can tell a story here or there of, ‘Hey, Tuesday afternoon I was playing goalie at my girls’ soccer practice … and my girls were yelling at me because I was afraid of the ball or something,’” Stafford stated. “His son isn’t old enough to quite do some of those things, but I know he enjoys sharing stories back on what’s going on at home, which is cool to see.”
Receiver Cooper Kupp started his Rams profession the identical 12 months as McVay. Kupp, a father of three, stated there is no such thing as a thriller why McVay enthusiastically shares fatherhood experiences.
“The things that he really cherishes in his life, the things that he loves — they’re not all in one basket anymore,” Kupp stated, including, “That helps give you perspective, and levels you out a little bit.”
As the daddy of three, Cooper Kupp understands the combo between household and soccer. He acquired to share a few of that pleasure after a Tremendous Bowl LVI victory.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
Gamers who don’t but have kids even have heard McVay weave fatherhood into his teaching function. Often, he references classes handed all the way down to him by his father.
“He’ll kind of mention like, ‘My dad used to say …,’” defensive lineman Kobie Turner stated. “He takes a lot of what he’s learned from real life and what it seems like he learned from his father and applies it.
“He often tries to relate to the guys in the room and talk about how he’s trying to be the best version of himself, not only for us as a team but also like, he’s a dad now.”
Final month, McVay reached one other milestone.
The Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium to provide McVay his eightieth victory, shifting him previous the late John Robinson because the winningest coach in Rams historical past.
McVay achieved the feat on his son’s first birthday.
“That was the coolest,” McVay stated, “and felt like a little God-wink right there for you. That was pretty special.”
McVay’s mother and father stated it additionally has been particular to look at their son develop.
“For being so hard charging and driven, I believe he’s worked even harder on taking care of himself for this,” Tim stated. “And that makes him a better overall dude at the office and in coaching.”
And at dwelling.
Watching her husband embrace fatherhood has been “a gift,” Veronika stated.
“It’s changed his perspective on some things in the best way possible,” she stated, “and I think he’ll just keep growing from that.”
Rams coach Sean McVay will get a hug from his then fiancee Veronika Khomyn in 2022 as his mom Cindy McVay, left, watches.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Related Press)
The McVays know there will likely be challenges forward. As kids become old, so do their alternatives for actions in sports activities, music and different areas.
Cindy McVay speaks from expertise.
“He’s going to have to figure out some things when Jordan starts his own sports,” she stated. “You really don’t want to miss that kind of stuff, so that’s all going to be kind of a learning thing.”
McVay just isn’t trying too far forward.
Whether or not requested about his private scenario or his crew’s probabilities of making the playoffs, he usually speaks about “being where your feet are.”
McVay’s are fortunately planted together with his spouse and son.
“It’s a love you can never know,” he stated, “until you have it.”
