Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is currently one of my favorite leaders. The intensity and schematic brilliance he brings to the coaching profession is at an elite level. On Sunday February 13th, he led his team into Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals for a win.
Prior to the game, he sat down with NBC Sport’s Chris Simms to discuss a variety of topics. Their interview is shown above. The lessons learned are a masterclass in organization and personal leadership.
The following are 45 Leadership Quotes and Lessons from Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay captured from their time together:
The Leadership of Quarterback Matthew Stafford
- “When does a guy like this really become available?”
- “The most difficult time to play quarterback are in those known-passing situations… That to me is when he shined his brightest… Playing the position at an elite level in those spots is what really resonated.”
- “He elevates people around him.”
- “He’s one of the most emotionally-intelligent players I’ve ever been around… There’s no chance we’re in this position without him.”
- “What I love about him is how quickly he can correct himself… He’s got great capacity and utilizes all the inventory he’s gathered.”
- “He’s an extension of the coaching staff on the grass.”
- “I’m a better coach for having worked with this guy.”
- “Matthew’s ownership and the ability to collaborate over this last year has been instrumental in our success and he’s elevated everyone around him.”
- “He is so much smarter and more intelligent than anybody else realizes and he’s one of the best competitors I’ve ever been around.”
- “There is a difference between smart football and scared football and he is not playing in the least bit scared.”
- “He’s played his best ball in the play-offs.”
Creating a Winning Culture
- “We’ve got a great locker room. We’ve got veteran leaders in there who want to win.”
- “We care about football and it’s truly a collaboration. It’s coaches and players working as one. We’re willing to listen.”
- “The players we’ve brought in are smart guys who like football, they’re great competitors.”
- “You’re going to be positively pushed. But you’re going to be respected in the way that we push you.”
- “Let’s have some urgency but let’s enjoy the way we go about it.”
- “We’re never going to be demeaning but we’re going to be demanding.
- “We’re all going to be accountable. When mistakes happen I want everybody’s first reaction to be inward and how I can do a better job within the framework of my role.”
- “Our best players set the tone…. Our best players upheld the standard and that became the norm for what was expected day-in and day-out.”
- “Our captains are the best examples of what personifies the Rams.”
Player Acquisition
- “I want guys that are great competitors.”
- “We have an owner who’s willing to trust a lot of the decisions.”
- “There’s creative avenues of acquiring players that we’ve really explored.”
- “If you have a proven commodity and you can exchange some 1’s for them… there’s other ways of acquiring and building a team.”
- “Our guys have delivered in a big way and that set the tone for the rest of the team and those great ones, they make everyone around them better. That’s the separator.”
- “Attack success and never be afraid to fail and you see that in our approach of acquiring players.”
