Sean McVay holds a position of influence regarding the available assistant coach positions.
The Los Angeles Rams have recently bid farewell to four pivotal coaches, including defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, defensive line coach Eric Henderson, and assistant head coach Jimmy Lake. However, these departures underscore the potential success awaiting Sean McVay’s upcoming cohort of proteges.
If there’s a rising assistant coach not feeling secure with their current team, chances are they aspire to work under McVay. The track record of McVay’s former assistants speaks volumes since he took over as the Rams’ head coach in 2017.
Several coaches who started under McVay have moved up the ranks:
– In 2017, McVay hired OC Matt LaFleur, who later became Titans OC in 2018 and then Packers HC in 2019.
– QBs coach Greg Olson left in 2018 to become Raiders OC.
– Asst. WR Zac Taylor departed in 2019 to helm the Bengals.
– Safeties coach Ejiro Evero transitioned to Broncos DC in 2022.
– TE Shane Waldron left in 2021 to become Seahawks OC.
– AHC Joe Barry moved to Packers DC in 2021.
From McVay’s initial Rams staff, two are now head coaches, one serves as an OC (Waldron is now with the Bears), and Evero and Barry are actively seeking roles.
Andy Dickerson, initially asst. OL coach, now an OL coach with the Seahawks, may not stay and has already interviewed for an OC position.
In 2018, Senior Off. assistant Jedd Fisch left in 2020 to join the Patriots, now serving as HC at the University of Washington.
Ass. WR Liam Coen moved to be Kentucky OC in 2021, returned as Rams OC, and then resumed with Kentucky.
In 2019, TE Wes Phillips left in 2022 to be Vikings OC, while Asst. QB Zac Robinson left in 2024 to be Falcons OC, and DL/Run Game D Eric Henderson left in 2024 to co-coordinate USC.
In 2020, DC Brandon Staley became Chargers HC in 2021, OC Kevin O’Connell became Vikings HC in 2022, and RB Thomas Brown became Panthers OC in 2023. Staley and Brown are currently free agents but remain sought-after coordinators.
In 2021, DC Raheem Morris moved to be Falcons HC.
In 2023, AHC Jimmy Lake moved to be Falcons DC.
Even seemingly less notable hires, like Nick Caley and Jeremy Springer, have landed interviews for prominent positions.
McVay’s next hire could be a familiar face like defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant or someone within the Rams organization, or he might seek talent externally to bolster the team’s Super Bowl aspirations. In any case, McVay stands a higher chance of cultivating future head coaches or coordinators compared to most in his position.
