Storm Clouds: Coach Kyle Shanahan Almost Hired by Rams over Sean McVay?
Back in 2017, the Los Angeles Rams hired head coach Sean McVay. But had the weather been better during the interviewing process, his former boss Kyle Shanahan may have gotten the role. Instead, they became divisional rivals.
Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Washington, and McVay worked under him from 2010-2013 before the two offensive gurus got a chance to prove themselves as head coaches.
On a recent episode of the podcast “The Playcallers,” GM Les Snead said that a snowstorm prevented the Rams from interviewing potential head coach candidate Kyle Shanahan. That same year they would go on to hire Sean McVay.
At the time, Shanahan was preparing his team as the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator for a matchup against the New England Patriots (the infamous 28-3 game). When the storm prevented the organization from meeting the coveted offensive coach, he declined an interview over Facetime, and as the expression goes, the rest was history.
The Rams hired McVay, and the 49ers hired Shanahan as their head coach that same year, moves which have proven successful for both parties. McVay won the NFL’s Coach of the Year award in 2017, made the Super Bowl in 2019, and won it in 2022, compiling a record of 60-38 as a head coach.
Meanwhile, the 49ers made the Super Bowl in 2020 and have had a record of 52-46 with Shanahan at the helm. Last year he proved himself as an elite quarterback coach by transforming Brock Purdy from Mr. Irrelevant to an NFC Championship-caliber quarterback.
Although, at the time, Shanahan may have looked like the flashier signing, LA has no complaints ... thanks to some bad weather. With a healthy Matthew Stafford at quarterback in 2023 and Purdy coming off of injury for San Francisco, the two coaches will get a chance to continue competing for the title of best coach in the NFC West.
You can follow Isaiah DeAnda Delgado on Twitter and Instagram @IsaiahDDelgado.
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