On the surface, Sean McVay and Wade Phillips are almost nothing alike. McVay is a fiery 33-year-old with only two years of coaching experience. Phillips is a calm, cool and collected 72-year-old who got his first coaching job before McVay was even born.
Yet, as different as they might be, they combine to give the Rams one of the best coaching duos in the NFL. They balance each other perfectly, with McVay being more of the rah-rah leader while Phillips brings an even-keeled approach to coaching.
It may not seem like much of a factor, but McVay appreciates having a calming presence like Phillips on his staff because it keeps things in perspective for him.
“That’s something that has definitely helped me, where I’m always struggling with the balance,” McVay told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. “Watching the way that he’s been able to sustain such a high level over a course of time; I think you’re seeing why — because he enjoys it, he really has fun with it, and he doesn’t take it too seriously. He’ll never forget that it’s a game.”
Phillips is always quick to crack a joke to the media or end a press conference with a witty comment. He never takes anything more seriously than he should, always appreciating the moment when possible.
That’s something McVay admits he struggles with, saying Phillips is “a good measuring stick.”
Even when Phillips was a head coach, he was rarely seen getting heated on the sideline or screaming at players the way some coaches do. Now even later in his career, Phillips has found other ways to get his point across to players.
“It’s always been a challenge to me,” Phillips said. “I’m not a holler guy, so I’ve gotta do it a different way. I gotta tell them that I’m disappointed in them, and it’s gotta mean something.”
According to Gonzalez, Phillips “fully intends on coaching beyond this coming season,” which is great news for McVay and the Rams. He’s as experienced as coaches come and has seen every look an offense can possibly show. Having him in L.A. is important to McVay in more ways than one and the young coach isn’t afraid to admit it.
