LOS ANGELES — Sean McVay isn’t interested in the glory of a namesake legacy. Despite a decade of NFL front offices frantically searching for the “next McVay,” the Rams’ mastermind told Kay Adams on Friday that the credit for the league’s most explosive offensive system belongs elsewhere. Following a 2025 season where his Rams finished 12-5 and led the league in scoring at 30.5 points per game, McVay made it clear: the roots of his success trace back to a different family tree.
During an appearance on the “Up & Adams” show, McVay didn’t hesitate when asked whether the sprawling web of successful young coaches should be labeled the McVay or Shanahan tree. The answer came with a level of humility that has become a staple of his tenure in Los Angeles. He pointed directly to his time in Washington under Mike and Kyle Shanahan as the catalyst for everything he has built at SoFi Stadium.
McVay’s system has been the gold standard for years, but he views himself as a student rather than an architect. He recalled his early days as an assistant, grinding through red zone packages and watching Kyle Shanahan refine the concepts that now dominate the modern NFL. The logic is simple: while McVay refined the engine, the Shanahans built the factory.
“It’s the Mike Shanahan tree. It all started under his dad, and Kyle was the coordinator. I have such appreciation for the history of this game. Everybody that’s come through our building, they’ve contributed, and I’ve learned from them, too. Kyle is somebody I learned from, and I worked under him as an assistant… It should be the Shanahan tree, I agree.”
— Sean McVay, Rams Head Coach
The timing of this admission is poignant. The Rams just watched offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur depart to take the head coaching job in Arizona, while McVay brought in Kliff Kingsbury to help modernize the passing attack for the upcoming 2026 campaign. This constant reshuffling of staff is proof of the system’s effectiveness. Teams aren’t just hiring the men; they are buying the blueprint.
You could see the genuine respect in McVay’s eyes as he spoke about the history of the scheme. He wasn’t just being polite; he was protecting the integrity of the game’s evolution. This isn’t just about X’s and O’s. It’s about a philosophy that prioritizes space, rhythm, and mental pressure—elements that helped Matthew Stafford throw for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns last season at age 38.
The Rams now look toward a 2026 season where expectations couldn’t be higher. After a narrow 31-27 loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship, McVay is focused on the next evolution. Whether you call it the McVay tree or the Shanahan tree, one fact remains: as long as this system is in Los Angeles, the Rams are the team to beat.
