Sean McVay’s Coaching Tree: Full list of disciples who landed head coach jobs
The Los Angeles Rams head coach has amassed a stunning coaching tree at just 40 years old.
As the 2026 NFL season gets underway, Sean McVay might be one of the head coaches under the most pressure around the league. McVay's future with the Los Angeles Rams is fully secure, having just recently penned a multiyear extension.
But the onus is completely on McVay to win a Super Bowl with the Rams this upcoming season. The front office has amassed something close to a super team, and the Rams are the overwhelming favorite to win the Lombardi Trophy this season. Whether McVay wins it or not, he has already built an outstanding legacy in the NFL .
McVay became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl when he did it with the Rams in 2022 . He's just 40 years old now, and he has a very long career ahead of him. But what goes beyond the box score is his influence on his fellow coaches, as McVay has already developed a strong coaching tree.
Mike LaFleur the latest head coach to branch out from Sean McVay's coaching tree
McVay himself came from a fruitful coaching tree courtesy of Kyle Shanahan . Now, McVay is paving the way for his assistants, with six already having earned a head coaching gig in the NFL .
Zac Taylor : Cincinnati Bengals head coach since 2019; Rams assistant WR coach and QB coach from 2017-18.
Matt LaFleur : Green Bay Packers head coach since 2019; Rams offensive coordinator in 2017.
Kevin O'Connell : Minnesota Vikings head coach since 2022; Rams offensive coordinator from 2020-21.
Brandon Staley : Los Angeles Chargers head coach from 2021-23; Rams defensive coordinator in 2020
Liam Coen : Jacksonville Jaguars head coach since 2025; Rams assistant WR coach from 2018-19, assistant QB coach in 2020, and offensive coordinator in 2022.
Mike LaFleur : Arizona Cardinals head coach since 2026; Rams offensive coordinator from 2023-25.
There are others who worked with McVay and went on to be head coaches elsewhere, although they also had plenty of experience before working with McVay: Particularly Raheem Morris and Jedd Fisch .
Some other coaches had stops along the way, like Staley, Coen, and Matt LaFleur. But there's no doubt that other NFL franchises want " the next Sean McVay ". They just might never get it.
