The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3. Rams hire Marist alum McVay:
Ex-coordinator, 30, inherits the league’s worst-rated offense.
Sean McVay won a state championship during his time as a quarterback at Marist in 2003. Today he’s a part of NFL history. The Los Angeles Rams hired McVay (right) as head coach Thursday, making the 30-year-old the youngest coach in NFL history. McVay’s coaching career began in 2008 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has spent seven seasons with the Washington Redskins, the past three as offensive coordinator.
The Los Angeles Rams have made Sean McVay the youngest head coach in NFL history.
The Rams on Thursday hired McVay, who turns 31 years old Jan. 24.
McVay spent the past three seasons as the Redskins’ offensive coordinator. He has been an assistant since 2010 in Washington, where he worked with coach Jay Gruden to build a prolific offense led by quarterback Kirk Cousins.
He replaces Jeff Fisher, who was fired 13 games into the Rams’ homecoming season in Los Angeles, and interim coach John Fassel.
The Rams made the eye-catching move on the same day that the Chargers announced their relocation to Los Angeles to share the Rams’ $2.6 billion stadium.
McVay wowed the Rams’ top brass during two recent interviews, but he is an unorthodox choice for the franchise, which hasn’t taken extraordinary risks during owner Stan Kroenke’s tenure. While McVay is respected as an up-and-coming NFL mind, he has understandably meager experience, including none as a head coach.
“He’s brought a lot to this football team, as far as offensively, and done a good job calling plays and utilizing the people that we have,” Gruden said recently.
The Rams’ offense has finished last in the NFL for two consecutive seasons. Quarterback Jared Goff was the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, but he struggled in his half-season as their starter, while top running back Todd Gurley had a dismal second NFL season.
McVay’s grandfather, John, spent 21 seasons in the 49ers’ front office.
Jaguars: Owner Shad Khan also said Tom Coughlin will have final say on all football decisions, giving him broad authority that includes the draft, free agency, other roster moves and the hiring of assistant coaches.
General manager Dave Caldwell handled those duties the past four years, but his role was seemingly diminished with Coughlin’s return to Jacksonville.
Three days after hiring them, Khan formally introduced Coughlin as the team’s executive vice president of football operations and Doug Marrone as head coach. Marrone replaces Gus Bradley, who was fired in November amid one of the worst coaching tenures in NFL history.
Broncos: Vance Joseph called the Denver coaching job a “reboot, not a rebuild” when he was introduced as Gary Kubiak’s successor.
Joseph, 44, scuttled interviews scheduled with the Chargers, Rams and 49ers about their coaching vacancies after meeting with Denver GM John Elway this week about the most desirable opening in the league.
Joseph said he’s eager to step into the Broncos’ championship culture, saying, “It’s a football team that’s not broken. It’s a great job.”
Dolphins: Linebackers coach Matt Burke has been promoted to defensive coordinator as a replacement for Vance Joseph, the Broncos’ new head coach. Burke joined the Dolphins in 2016 and coached an injury-plagued unit.
Ravens: Hired Greg Roman as the team’s senior offensive assistant and tight ends coach. Roman was fired as the Bills’ offensive coordinator two weeks into the 2016 season. He came to Buffalo in 2015 after spending four seasons as offensive coordinator of the 49ers.
Packers: Cornerback Quinten Rollins practiced for a second straight day, a sign Green Bay’s secondary could be closer to full strength for Sunday’s divisional playoff game at Dallas.