Los Angeles Rams wunderkind Sean McVay already is the youngest coach to qualify for the postseason, win a playoff game, and appear in a Super Bowl. McVay was just 33 when the Rams won the NFC and lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. On Sunday, he becomes the youngest coach to appear in two. With his victory over the Bengals, McVay also becomes the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl.
Sean McVay becomes the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl
McVay was born on Jan. 24, 1986. The Super Bowl was Sunday, Feb. 13. That means McVay is 36 years and 20 days old on the day of the big game. With the win, he is 301 days younger than the current record holder.
McVay replaces Mike Tomlin in the record books
The previous record-holder was Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who broke the existing record (held by then-Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden) in the 2008 season. Tomlin’s Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
On Monday, ahead of McVay’s second Super Bowl appearance, he was asked about the man he was chasing in the history books.
“Mike is one of the more impressive people I’ve ever met,” McVay said. “He’s been great to me. I couldn’t be more grateful, really. I got a chance and get to know him a little bit a few years ago through Raheem Morris. You know, he and Raheem are really close. And then at different functions when you become a head coach and you have that interaction.
“But I think one of the things that’s been great about Mike is he’s so willing to share, you know, really kind of put his arm around you and really help kind of, you know, be a mentor and answer any questions that you have,” McVay added. “But his leadership, his command, his mental toughness, how that really relates to the way that his teams play, the way they respond from the good and the bad. I think he’s one of the best leaders that this sport has to offer — really sports in general.”
Both Super Bowl LIII coaches are under 40
McVay was guaranteed to do a couple of things that have never before been done in this year’s Super Bowl. Along with being the youngest person to coach two Super Bowls, he’ll be a part of another bit of history: This will be the youngest head coaching matchup ever, as Taylor is 38 years and nine months old.
“To me, honestly, the age doesn’t really matter as a coach,” Bengals safety Jessie Bates III said Monday. “You can tell when a coach is confident and what he believes in and what he is preaching.
“I think the main thing is … Zac, ever since the first day he walked in here, he had a clear goal, a clear vision of what this is going to look like. And I was just happy to be a part of it — happy to be a leader.”