Matthew Stafford gave Sean McVay perfect reason to turn down $100m TV contract and beat John Madden

There is a bright, shining energy to Sean McVay.

There is also an NFL head coach who almost quit the league after his first losing record and was tempted by a $100 million trapdoor that could have led to a new career in TV.

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Why did McVay almost quit as Rams coach?

“In the midst of so many good things going on here, I lost my way a little bit” McVay told Chris Long on the Green Light podcast, after the Los Angeles Rams went 5-12 during the 2022 season.

“Where the results weren’t what we wanted, I was exposed, in terms of my shortcomings, some of my insecurities, and I really had to address that.”

Three seasons later, the Rams are 12-5 and one win away from the third Super Bowl of McVay’s career.

He almost won Super Bowl LIII but the New England Patriots‘ defense was too tough for then-Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff.

McVay will always be a world champion, thanks to the late-career resurgence of Matthew Stafford and a 23-20 victory over Joe Burrow‘s Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

Perspective is everything for the 39-year-old McVay, who was hired by the Rams in 2017 in a stunning move that saw the former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator become the NFL’s youngest head coach since Art “Pappy” Lewis wis hired as a 27-year-old in 1938.

McVay has become one of the best minds in the sport, rebuilding the Rams from the inside out while turning a 37-year-old Stafford into a leading NFL MVP candidate.

McVay has also suffered from sideline burnout and exhaustion, and was on the verge of walking away from his chosen profession before his coaching career had peaked.

TV and big money were calling for McVay

McVay reportedly turned down a potential five-year, $100 million offer from Amazon that would have made the highly energetic Rams coach a key voice on the streaming network’s Thursday Night Football coverage.

“As you continue to do this and you go through it and you get another opportunity to be in this role for another year, working for an owner (Stan Kroenke) that you love and care about and leading alongside people, you’re just grateful,” McVay said before the Rams’ 20-17 overtime road victory over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Round.

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“You’re also grateful for opportunities that are afforded to be in the final eight (teams) and to do those types of things, and to be able to have meaningful journeys with people that mean a lot to you. It’s crazy that it’s been that long ago. In some instances, I feel like I’m a lot older than I am. I think I have a lot better perspective than I did, especially in those middle parts of the career.”

A victory on Championship Sunday over Sam Darnold and the NFC West-winning Seattle Seahawks will remind the NFL just how impressive McVay’s early career has been.

A controversial hire that initially stunned league insiders has produced a 92-57 regular-season record and 10 playoff victories before McVay turned 40.

The native of Dayton, Ohio has twice as many playoffs wins at his age as his nearest competitor, which means that Bill Belichick, Don Shula, John Madden and Mike Tomlin can’t touch McVay in that unique category.

“The accomplishments and success that he has had in less than a decade in our league are impressive,” Kroenke said in a statement when McVay was hired.

Rams took big risk on NFL’s youngest coach

“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.”

The first trophy followed a blockbuster March 2021 trade for Stafford, who had been a Pro Bowl QB with Detroit and won NFL Comeback Player of the Year but ultimately produced a 74-90-1 record and been associated with annual fan frustration.

With McVay and the Rams, Stafford is 46-28 and coming off one of the best regular seasons of his 17-year career.

Stafford led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns this season, and rivals the Patriots’ Drake Maye as the leading MVP candidate.

“I looked right at Sean, he looked right at me,” said Stafford, recounting the final blow in the Rams’ OT victory over Caleb Williams‘ Bears.

“And I’m like, ‘Here we go.’ That’s what it’s all about. What an unbelievable job by our defense today, getting us the ball over and over again. Whether it be fourth-down stops or turnovers, they were clutch and timely.”

Stafford has been key to McVay’s tenure

In getting the best out of an aging Stafford, McVay has gotten the best out of himself as an NFL head coach.

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Stafford was a yearly question mark in Detroit, putting up big numbers but only making the playoffs three times in 12 years and going 0-3.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft earned more than $219m as a Lion, yet it wasn’t until Stafford synched up with McVay that NFL fans truly began to believe in the former Georgia Bulldog as an elite pro QB.

In 2022, McVay was losing his grip on the sideline and looking for an NFL exit.

“By no means am I perfect,” McVay said on the Green Light podcast.

“But I’m a lot better off from that 2022 season where you’re saying like, ‘You’re actually thinking about not coaching anymore? What the hell is wrong with you?’

“But those were real things because you lost your purpose and perspective in the midst of the good stuff occurring.”

Ranking Super Bowl contenders

2. New England Patriots (15-3)

Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud couldn’t do anything against the Patriots.

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The Broncos’ best hope is their pass-rushing defense getting to Drake Maye for four quarters.

The real battle will be between Mike Vrabel and Sean Payton on the sidelines.

AFC Championship Prediction: Patriots 23, Broncos 13

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Rams one win from third Super Bowl with McVay

Three consecutive winning seasons for Los Angeles have followed, while Stafford has become a Hall of Fame lock and leapt to sixth all-time in passing yards (64,516).

McVay doesn’t remain a Ram without the former No. 1 pick that he’s coached into a yearly MVP threat.

Stafford doesn’t throw for more than 4,700 yards in his 17th season without having the best coach in NFL history under 40 constantly whispering in his ear.

“I think the coolest thing is just the honesty that we have with each other,” Stafford said.

“Whether things go the way we want it to or not, it’s how can we fix them? How can we be better? How can we communicate better as an offense and then ultimately play better?

“We’ve had that since I’ve been here. I appreciate the hell out of it. It’s not always the case in this league. I hope he feels from me that I’m accountable to the decisions I make, the throws I make, and all those kind of things and to our team. I know he is for us. It’s a fun thing
and it’s a fun partnership.”

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