Rams Hire Sean McVay as Head Coach

By ESPN

In an audacious move that stole some of the spotlight from the uprooting Chargers and stunned many throughout the industry, the Rams revealed their new head coach Thursday, hiring 30-year-old Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay to the vacant post.

Rams general manager Les Snead, whose job status became tenuous with the mid-December firing of former head coach Jeff Fisher, is expected to stay in his current role, sources confirmed to ESPN's Dan Graziano.

McVay, who turns 31 on Jan. 24, will become the youngest head coach since Art "Pappy" Lewis for the Cleveland Browns, who took the job in 1938 at 27 years old, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Rams clearly don't mind. They were so enthused with McVay that they agreed to hire him without first sitting down with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who was considered one of the favorites when the process began.

McVay's contract is for five years, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Rams will hold a news conference at their facility in Thousand Oaks, California, to introduce McVay at 3 p.m. ET Friday.

In a statement, McVay said: "I am incredibly honored by this opportunity, and I want to start by thanking Mr. [Stan] Kroenke and Kevin Demoff for their faith in me to lead the Los Angeles Rams as head coach. Collectively, we are committed to building a championship-caliber team, and I'm excited to start that process and make our fans proud."

McVay quickly lured Wade Phillips to become his defensive coordinator, with the seasoned head coach agreeing to terms on a deal Thursday night, a source told Schefter. The Rams probably won't bring Rob Boras back as offensive coordinator but could opt to keep special-teams coordinator John Fassel, who served as interim coach for the final three games of the season.

McVay is the grandson of John McVay, a successful San Francisco 49ers executive who presided over five Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1980s and '90s.

Sean McVay has spent the past three years running the Redskins' offense and has been crucial in the development of quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Rams hope he can do the same with 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff and vastly improve a woeful offense that has gained the fewest yards in the NFL in each of the past two years.

In 2016, McVay's Redskins offense averaged more than 400 yards per game for the first time in franchise history and finished as the NFL's third-ranked unit.

"The accomplishments and success that he has had in less than a decade in our league are impressive," Kroenke, the Rams' owner, said in a statement. "We are confident in his vision to make this team a consistent winner and we will all continue to work together to achieve our ultimate goal -- bringing a Rams Super Bowl championship home to Los Angeles."

McVay began his career as assistant wide receivers coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008, during which time Demoff, the Rams chief operating officer who led the head-coaching search, worked in the front office. The head coach at the time was Jon Gruden, who reportedly recommended McVay to the Rams.

Saturday, January 14 Schedule (All Times Central)

Seattle at Atlanta, 3:35 p.m.

Houston at New England, 7:15 p.m.

Sunday, January 15 Schedule (All Times Central)

Pittsburgh at Kansas City, 12:05 p.m.

Green Bay at Dallas, 3:40 p.m.