Sean McVay’s coaching tree includes Kevin O’Connell

On January 14, 2025By Littum

The apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree for at least a few Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay’s disciples.

One of the former disciples who most enjoyed the same coaching success McVay enjoyed in Los Angeles is the current head of his future NFL wild card game opponent: Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.

O’Connell is one of two of McVay’s six former coordinators or assistants who have a winning record since leaving Los Angeles to claim their own head coaching jobs. The Vikings the head coach’s ability to develop quarterback talent, especially in helping veterans who may have struggled in the past, has become well known in the NFL in recent years.

O’Connell’s recent success story has been Sam Darnoldthe former No. 3 overall pick who helped lead Minnesota, his fourth team in five years, to a 14-win season and a playoff berth.

On Monday night, O’Connell, Darnold and the Vikings face McVay’s Aries in a battle of who will play Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round next week.

Sean McVay coaching tree

The following six coaches were all former McVay disciples who went on to NFL head coaching jobs after their time in Los Angeles. Here’s who they are, ranked by winning percentage as head coaches:

Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers | 2019-present: 67-33 record (67%)

LaFleur just barely edges out O’Connell in regular season winning percentage. His three consecutive 13-win seasons with quarterback Aaron Rodgers help him there, but he has been able to continue to find success in the post-Rodgers era with current Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love. LaFleur is 3-5 in the playoffs.

Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings | 2022-present: 34-17 record (66.7%)

O’Connell’s winning percentage as a head coach is just decimals behind LaFleur’s. His success has largely been a result of how he has been able to build his team’s offense around a quarterback’s skill set to allow the player, as well as the offense as a whole, to thrive. O’Connell is 0-1 in the playoffs.

Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers | 2021-2023: 24-24 record (50%)

Staley is one of just two former Rams defensive coordinators to find a head coaching gig, and he didn’t have to look far to find it. He made it through two-and-a-half seasons before the Chargers fired him three weeks before the end of last season. Staley had an 0-1 record in the playoffs.

Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons | 2024-present*: 8-9 (47.1%)

Morris is the second former Rams defensive coordinator to land a head coaching job after his time in Los Angeles. He returned to Atlanta this year after serving as the Falcons’ interim head coach for 11 games in 2020. His team went 8-9 and was in contention for the NFC South title as recently as Week 18. Morris has never coached a team to the playoffs.

*Morris served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-2011) and as interim head coach of the Falcons (2020) prior to his tenure under McVay. This record only reflects his success since his three-year stay in Los Angeles (2021-2023).

Zach Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals | 2019-present: 46-52-1 record (47%)

Only one member of the McVay coaching staff has been to the Super Bowl, and of course he lost to McVay’s Rams when he got there. Taylor’s Bengals have had one of the most potent offenses in the NFL since 2019, with quarterback Joe Burrow throwing to wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins every year to great success. Taylor has a 5-2 playoff record with the only two losses coming in the aforementioned Super Bowl and in the AFC Championship Game (to the Kansas City Chiefs) the following year.

Thomas Brown, Chicago Bears* | 2024-2024: 1-4 record (20%)

Brown is technically the least successful of McVay’s disciples, but he only has a sample size of five games. He was the Bears’ interim head coach for the final five games of the season and earned his first win as a head coach at Green Bay in Week 18.

*Brown only served as interim head coach for five games for the Bears this year.

Sean McVay coaching record vs. Rams

Here’s how each of McVay’s disciples have fared when facing the Rams, listed in the order they landed their head coaching jobs:

Matt LaFleur (Packers): 4-0 regular season; 1-0 after the season
Zac Taylor (Bengals): 1-1 regular season; 0-1 after the season
Brandon Staley (Chargers): 1-0 in the regular season
Kevin O’Connell (Vikings): 0-2 regular season
Raheem Morris (Falcons): REACH
Thomas Brown (Bears): REACH
Overall: 6-3 regular season; 1-1 postseason