Since becoming the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, Sean McVay has changed the culture of the organization. The previous regime of Jeff Fisher as head coach left the franchise in a mediocre state.
Fisher was the head coach from 2012-2016 with a 31-45 record in that span. Unfortunately, he failed to have a season over .500 during his tenure with the Rams.
Rams fans were nervous about the future of the franchise and were wondering who would be the candidate to take the reins of the head coaching position.
In comes McVay, a bright offensive mind that was the Washington Redskins' offensive coordinator. Once McVay stepped in the building, the culture shifted to a winning one immediately.
In his first season calling the shots, McVay got the Rams to an 11-5 record and an NFC West title. Consequently, the Rams fell short in the NFC Wild Card game to the Atlanta Falcons.
Despite losing in their first playoff game since 2004, everyone knew there wasn't something special being built in Los Angeles—besides the Rams' new stadium set to open in 2020.
McVay was the main contributor to altering the narrative of the Rams in recent years. In 2018, the Rams improved upon their impressive 2017 season by going 13-3 and winning the NFC West again.
They also won their first playoff game since 2004 and advanced all the way to a Super Bowl. In just two seasons, McVay turned a 4-12 team from 2016 to a Super Bowl squad in 2018.
Los Angeles was defeated by the New England Patriots by the score of 13-3. It was a disappointing end to the season, but the future continues to be bright for the team residing in the City of Angels.
The aura surrounding the Rams has changed rapidly with the arrival of McVay as head coach. Los Angeles has become a coveted destination for veteran free agents who are hoping to win another ring.
This offseason, the Rams were able to land Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews in free agency. Both are long-time veterans in the NFL and are both yearning for an opportunity to make it to another Super Bowl.
Weddle was cut by the Baltimore Ravens when the offseason began. Immediately, the Rams got a meeting set up with the 34-year old safety.
After shaking hands with McVay, Weddle knew he couldn't say no to joining the franchise. McVay seems like the cool uncle that everyone wants to be around, even when he's younger than some of the guys.
Weddle is heading into his 13th season after playing with the Los Angeles Chargers and Ravens. Just two seasons ago, Weddle had six interceptions and 63 tackles with the Ravens.
The Rams were at the top of his list of destinations when he was released. Here's an excerpt from an article that states why Weddle says he chose the Rams.
“You look at where you want to go, what are the teams that need a safety and the Rams were at the top of the list,” Weddle said. “The system, where I think I fit, my personality, how close they are – I mean, this team is on the verge of greatness. They showed it last year, the last couple years, so each year they’ve progressed farther and farther and obviously (they were) at the top of the list.”
Furthermore, players are now regularly describing the Rams as a desirable destination. Matthews shared the same sentiment when it came to why he signed with the organization.
Of course, Matthews returns to Los Angeles after playing for USC in college. The veteran linebacker was also born in Northridge, California (a 48-minute drive to Los Angeles) and he went to Agoura high school.
Rams faithful should continue to feel optimistic with the direction of the organization. With McVay leading the way, Los Angeles is going to be a contender for the foreseeable future due to his ability to lure players who want to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy.
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