The Rams hired Sean McVay on Thursday, making him the youngest head coach ever – he’s only 30. He’ll be the league’s first 31-year-old head coach when the Rams open the season in September. Only five other teams have hired 32-year-old head coaches in the Super Bowl era.
There’s something to be said for experience. Most coaches probably get better after they’ve been doing it for a few years. There have been some young coaches who busted big – Raheem Morris and David Shula.
But overall there have 16 coaches who worked in the Super Bowl era who were 35 or younger when they were hired by their first team. Six of those coaches won Super Bowls (and Don Shula and Mike Shanahan won multiple Super Bowls).
Of the other 10 coaches, only one finished with a winning career record – Joe Schmidt of the Lions.
| YOUNG HEAD COACHES IN SUPER BOWL ERA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coach | Age | Record |
| Sean McVay, L.A. | 30 | 0-0 |
| Raheem Morris, T.B. | 32 | 17-31 |
| Josh McDaniels, Den. | 32 | 11-17 |
| Lane Kiffin, Oak. | 32 | 5-11 |
| David Shula, Cin. | 32 | 19-52 |
| • John Madden, Oak. | 32 | 103-32-7 |
| Joe Collier, Buff. | 33 | 13-16-1 |
| •• Don Shula, Colts | 33 | 328-156-6 |
| • Mike Tomlin, Pitt. | 34 | 103-57 |
| Eric Mangini, NYJ | 34 | 33-47 |
| • Jon Gruden, Oak. | 34 | 95-81 |
| • Bill Cowher, Pitt. | 34 | 149-90-1 |
| Joe Schmidt, Det. | 34 | 43-34-7 |
| Jack Christiansen, S.F. | 34 | 26-38-3 |
| Norm Van Brocklin, Min. | 34 | 66-100-7 |
| •• Mike Shanahan, Raiders | 35 | 170-138 |
| Dick Nolan, S.F. | 35 | 69-82-5 |
—Ian Allan