Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is currently one of my favorite leaders. The intensity and schematic brilliance he brings to the coaching profession is at an elite level. On Sunday February 13th, he will be leading his team into Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Prior to the game, he sat down with NBC Sport’s Chris Simms to discuss a variety of topics. Their interview is shown above. The lessons learned are a masterclass in organization and personal leadership.
The following are 45 Leadership Quotes and Lessons from Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay captured from their time together:
The Leadership of Quarterback Matthew Stafford
- “When does a guy like this really become available?”
- “The most difficult time to play quarterback are in those known-passing situations… That to me is when he shined his brightest… Playing the position at an elite level in those spots is what really resonated.”
- “He elevates people around him.”
- “He’s one of the most emotionally-intelligent players I’ve ever been around… There’s no chance we’re in this position without him.”
- “What I love about him is how quickly he can correct himself… He’s got great capacity and utilizes all the inventory he’s gathered.”
- “He’s an extension of the coaching staff on the grass.”
- “I’m a better coach for having worked with this guy.”
- “Matthew’s ownership and the ability to collaborate over this last year has been instrumental in our success and he’s elevated everyone around him.”
- “He is so much smarter and more intelligent than anybody else realizes and he’s one of the best competitors I’ve ever been around.”
- “There is a difference between smart football and scared football and he is not playing in the least bit scared.”
- “He’s played his best ball in the play-offs.”
Creating A Winning Culture
- “We’ve got a great locker room. We’ve got veteran leaders in there who want to win.”
- “We care about football and it’s truly a collaboration. It’s coaches and players working as one. We’re willing to listen.”
- “The players we’ve brought in are smart guys who like football, they’re great competitors.”
- “You’re going to be positively pushed. But you’re going to be respected in the way that we push you.”
- “Let’s have some urgency but let’s enjoy the way we go about it.”
- “We’re never going to be demeaning but we’re going to be demanding.
- “We’re all going to be accountable. When mistakes happen I want everybody’s first reaction to be inward and how I can do a better job within the framework of my role.”
- “Our best players set the tone…. Our best players upheld the standard and that became the norm for what was expected day-in and day-out.”
- “Our captains are the best examples of what personifies the Rams.”
Player Acquisition
- “I want guys that are great competitors.”
- “We have an owner who’s willing to trust a lot of the decisions.”
- “There’s creative avenues of acquiring players that we’ve really explored.”
- “If you have a proven commodity and you can exchange some 1’s for them… there’s other ways of acquiring and building a team.”
- “Our guys have delivered in a big way and that set the tone for the rest of the team and those great ones, they make everyone around them better. That’s the separator.”
- “Attack success and never be afraid to fail and you see that in our approach of acquiring players.”
His Relationship with General Manager Les Snead
- “We see the game through a similar lens.”
The 2021 Los Angeles Rams
- “This year has been a real journey.”
- “I gained the most confidence… watching the resolve when we got to 7-4 and how we ended up reeling off a handful of wins in a row and finding different ways to do that.”
- “The resolve, the resilience, the belief, and the ability to stay connected through the adversity and kind of ignore that outside noise, especially in the midst of that three-game losing skid where we a month without losing a game.”
Leveraging Super Bowl Experience
- “Appreciate the opportunity but know the job’s not finished.”
- “You have a much better perspective on how difficult it is.”
- “When the game gets going, be totally and completely present and being able to see the game.”
- “There’s an urgency to let’s finish this job. There’s a confidence that’s been earned by this team.”
- “You want to make sure you learn from the previous mistakes.”
Aaron Donald
- “As good as you think he is, and as special as you think he is, he’s better. He’s truly one of one.”
- “You watch the focus, the concentration, the way he practices… it’s a blessing to be able to coach him.”
- “He’s everything you could ask for in a superstar. The humility, the way he brings people with him.”
- “As physically gifted as he is, he’s just as gifted above the neck, the intrinsic motivation he has, the ability to push himself. The mental toughness is second to none.”
Handling Pressure
- “That’s a part of this business.”
- “I have such conviction about the players and coaches I’m surrounded with, it gives you confidence.”
- “There’s always internal pressure you put on yourself.”
Growth As A Coach
- “Experience is the biggest thing, learning from both the good and the bad.”
- “The scars from the mistakes you’ve made or the adversity you’ve had can harden you in a good way if you take it the right way.”
- “Utilize all those experiences to gain the perspective, the appreciation and continuing to understand how important it is to be surrounded by great people.”
What is one thing you learned from Coach McVay which will make you a better leader?
The Top 75 Leadership Quotes From 2021 Part 2 is my latest ebook. For many entering a post-pandemic environment, leadership looks completely different than the pre-pandemic world. People are more broken now. They are more uncertain. Fear and anxiousness are unwelcome constant companions. Cultures are more unhealthy. Relationships are more dysfunctional. Hope seems to be in short supply. Every day seems to bring a new hacking, natural disaster, or unexpected calamity.
Therefore, the fundamentals of leadership are more important than ever. The quotes in this book deal with the basics of leadership. If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, click HERE or on the image provided to download this FREE resource. The lessons learned from last year, if applied, will sustain you for years to come.