The Rams struck gold in 2017 when they brought Sean McVay onboard as head coach. Over his nine years in Los Angeles, the Rams qualified for the playoffs seven times, reached the Super Bowl twice, and clinched one championship.
McVay is known for his exceptional offensive strategy and a standout ability to motivate and lead his players.
He provides a significant advantage for the Rams whenever he steps onto the field.
Here’s a breakdown of the head coaches that McVay and the Rams will encounter this season, along with an assessment of who has the upper hand.
1. Andy Reid, Chiefs, Week 13
Reid has guided two teams to the Super Bowl and has secured three titles with the Chiefs. He’s often viewed as the benchmark for today’s NFL coaches. His offensive prowess is widely acknowledged, with a play-design and a bold approach that’s hard to match.
McVay is making strides towards achieving what Reid has, although it’s uncertain if he aims to coach as long as Reid, who is set to begin his 28th season.
Advantage: Chiefs
2. Mike McDonald, Seahawks, Weeks 16 and 18
The coaching matchup between McVay and McDonald is particularly intriguing since they literally face off. McVay is recognized as a top offensive strategist, while McDonald serves as his defensive counterpart.
Even though they are closely matched, McDonald leads their head-to-head encounters 3-2, having bested the Rams in their last two meetings, which helped the Seahawks secure the NFC West title and a Super Bowl spot.
Advantage: Push
3. Kyle Shanahan, 49ers, Weeks 1 and 14
Shanahan and McVay have a shared history, having begun their coaching careers together as assistants in Washington under Mike Shanahan, Kyle’s father.
They are good friends and intense rivals, consistently pushing each other to improve.
Advantage: Push
4. Sean Payton, Broncos, Week 3
Having led the Saints to a hugely successful season, including a Super Bowl win, Payton has long been recognized as one of the best coaches around.
His return to coaching in Denver, bringing the Broncos close to Super Bowl contention, reaffirms his skills in leading a football team.
A Super Bowl win for the Broncos could cement his legacy further.
Advantage: Rams
5. Jim Harbaugh, Chargers, Week 8
Harbaugh excels at maximizing his teams’ potential, a trait demonstrated during his tenures at Stanford, the 49ers, and the University of Michigan.
He took the Chargers to the playoffs twice in his two seasons in Los Angeles, demonstrating that he hasn’t lost his touch during his time at Michigan.
His focus now is not just on making the playoffs but advancing further.
Advantage: Rams
6. John Harbaugh, Giants, Week 2
Transitioning to coach the Giants after 18 seasons with the Ravens may be challenging for Harbaugh. However, sometimes change is essential, and this new chapter offers him a chance for a fresh start on a larger stage.
He’s committed to developing a tough and competitive team in New York, which should eventually bear fruit.
Advantage: Rams
7. Matt LaFleur, Packers, Week 12
LaFleur is another friend of McVay’s, having previously coached together in Washington. He was also McVay’s first offensive coordinator when McVay took over the Rams.
LaFleur has performed reasonably well with the Packers, yet there’s a pressing need to improve their playoff performance, with his record in the postseason currently standing at 3-6.
Advantage: Rams
8. Nick Sirianni, Eagles, Week 4
The Eagles enjoyed great success under Sirianni, even capturing a Super Bowl title. Yet, there’s often a question of whether their achievements stemmed from him or in spite of him.
If the Eagles can rejuvenate their offense this season, some of the criticisms he faces may fade. But that’s easier said than done, isn’t it?
Advantage: Rams
9. Dan Quinn, Commanders, Week 9
Despite bringing the Falcons to the Super Bowl and nearly reaching the same feat with the Commanders in his first year, Quinn often goes underappreciated among NFL coaches.
Last year’s injuries hampered his team while he was an assistant, but with Jaden Daniels healthy, this squad could become intriguing. Quinn seems well-suited for the task ahead.
Advantage: Rams
10. Clint Kubiak, Raiders, Week 7
This marks Kubiak’s first year as head coach in Las Vegas, making it challenging to gauge his capabilities in this role.
However, there’s a reason Tom Brady and Raiders GM John Spytek quickly identified Kubiak as the coach for young quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He’s got a grasp on quarterback nuances, innovative calling, and resonates well with the feedback from players.
Advantage: Rams
11. Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys, Week 15
Schottenheimer had a solid first year as head coach of the Cowboys, performing well despite being primarily focused on one side of the game.
The Cowboys ranked seventh in scoring, largely thanks to his influence.
However, his defense unfortunately ranked as the worst in the league.
Advantage: Rams
12. Todd Bowles, Buccaneers, Week 17
In his nine seasons as an NFL head coach, Bowles holds a record of 61-74. While he’s kept the Buccaneers in championship contention during his time in Tampa, he often finds himself as an underdog.
After an 8-9 season, there’s speculation that the Buccaneers might look elsewhere. He has one more year to elevate the team, but a change could be in the cards at season’s end.
Advantage: Rams
13. Joe Brady, Bills, Week 5
This ranking doesn’t reflect Brady’s potential but highlights his status as a new head coach.
Although he was fired mid-season with the Panthers, he enhanced the Bills’ offense significantly last year when he took over play-calling duties.
He has the opportunity to make a name for himself in Buffalo, and how he navigates this situation will be interesting to watch.
Advantage: Rams
14. Mike LaFleur, Cardinals, Weeks 6 and 10
LaFleur is stepping into his role as head coach for the first time, leaving some unpredictability about the outcome. If the Cardinals can elevate their performance this season, he might rank higher next year.
However, it’s going to be a tough road ahead in Arizona, with limited resources available. The former Rams offensive coordinator must weather challenges, yet there is an understanding that improvement will take some time.
Advantage: Rams
