Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell are viewed as two of the top offensive minds in the league today. Yet, they have forged a strong relationship along their journeys to becoming NFL head coaches.
Both McVay and O’Connell have benefited from their experience together during their NFL coaching careers. Let’s take a closer look at their relationship and respective coaching careers.
Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell’s History
During McVay’s first season as head coach of the Rams, Matt LaFleur held the title of offensive coordinator in Los Angeles. Following LaFleur’s departure, nobody officially held the title for the Rams until O’Connell joined McVay’s coaching staff in 2020.
Similar to McVay, O’Connell coached in Washington before joining the Rams. While the coaches didn’t cross paths in Washington, they quickly developed a unique relationship in Los Angeles.
O’Connell was Los Angeles’ offensive coordinator for two seasons, as the Rams’ offense reached an elite level in 2021. They ranked second in receiving touchdowns (41), fifth in total yards (4,893), and eighth in total touchdowns (63).
While the team’s offensive success was certainly impressive, O’Connell capped off his second season as Los Angeles’ OC with a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56.
Following the Rams’ Super Bowl victory, O’Connell was hired to be Minnesota’s head coach and has enjoyed plenty of success with the Vikings since arriving in 2021.
Ahead of his first matchup against McVay as a head coach, O’Connell reflected on his relationship with the Rams head coach.
WATCH: The #Vikings face the Rams Thursday night, which means a reunion for Kevin O'Connell with Sean McVay.
The 2 won a Super Bowl together in 2021.
"He's one of my closest friends in this league." pic.twitter.com/BQpBcjDpT9
— FOX 9 (@FOX9) October 21, 2024
“He’s one of my closest friends in this league,” O’Connell said. “I have so much love for him.
“I have so much respect for him and how he runs that organization, his leadership, his football intellect,” O’Connell said. “He’s as good as it gets, and I’ve got nothing but love for him, and will always be like that.”
O’Connell praised McVay for preparing him for his first head coaching opportunity in the NFL while they were together for two seasons in Los Angeles. Now the two will go toe-to-toe for the first time as head coaches in 2024.
McVay’s Coaching Career
Following the end of his playing days at Miami (Ohio) as a wide receiver in 2007, McVay got his coaching start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008. Under head coach Jon Gruden, McVay served as Tampa Bay’s assistant wide receivers coach.
Following Gruden’s departure from Tampa Bay, McVay joined Jay Gruden as wide receivers coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League in 2009. Yet, McVay’s coaching stint outside of the NFL lasted just one season.
In 2010, he joined Washington’s coaching staff as the assistant tight ends coach under HC Mike Shanahan. McVay worked his way up the ladder in Washington, eventually earning a role as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2014.
McVay was praised for his development of Kirk Cousins, who became a Pro Bowl-caliber player in his offensive scheme. Following his success in Washington, McVay was hired by the Rams to be the franchise’s leader and the youngest HC in NFL history at just 30 years old.
He’s enjoyed quite an impressive start to his head coaching career. The Rams have reached the postseason in five of McVay’s seven seasons, including seven playoff wins and a victory in Super Bowl 56.
O’Connell’s Coaching Career
O’Connell didn’t start his coaching career quite as early as McVay did. Thanks to his success as a quarterback at San Diego State, O’Connell was a third-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2008 NFL Draft.
After bouncing around the NFL between five different teams across as many seasons, O’Connell joined the Cleveland Browns as the team’s quarterback coach in 2015.
Ironically, he landed the job in Cleveland thanks to his relationship with Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. The two worked together during O’Connell’s time as a private quarterbacks coach from 2013-2014.
After one season in Cleveland, O’Connell spent another with the San Francisco 49ers before joining Washington as the team’s QBs coach in 2017. He missed the opportunity to work with McVay in Washington by just one season.
O’Connell worked his way up the ranks in Washington, ultimately becoming the team’s offensive coordinator in 2019. He was not retained by Washington’s new head coach, Ron Rivera, however, which led to him joining the Rams as the OC in 2020.
After joining McVay’s staff, O’Connell had plenty of success and helped lead the Rams to victory in Super Bowl 56. Following his success in Los Angeles, the Vikings hired O’Connell as the franchise’s 10th head coach — reuniting him with Cousins, who he worked with for one season in Washington.
Through his first two seasons as an NFL head coach, O’Connell has a winning percentage of .588, which will only improve if the Vikings can continue their hot start in 2024.