Even for Sean McVay, the 39-year-old wunderkind head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, a plantar fascia tear. This injury happened during the team’s last 33-19 win against the Arizona Cardinals. On the play, as McVay was running downfield to try and get a timeout called, it forced him to come to an awkward stop on the sideline. This injury lays bare a uniquely vulnerable moment for McVay. As seen here during his nine seasons leading the Rams, McVay has become known for his zippy sideline energy.
McVay, who played wide receiver at Miami of Ohio, made history as the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl. He runs from sideline to sideline, berating referees and high-fiving his kids after their touchdowns. His high-energy coaching style will have everyone jumping to attention! This new injury has many worried about his movement in those first few games. As part of their preparation for going head-to-head for the second consecutive season with the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, that means.
Even with his injury, McVay kept a sense of humor. Coaching from the sidelines “truly made me appreciate the opportunity to coach the game and serve in that capacity,” he said. He stated, “I did tear my plantar fascia, so yeah. Well, that’s a good thing, because I guess it allows you to heal a little faster. I was being dramatic, limping around towards the end of the game, but the MRI confirmed I did that.”
As he further explained, while he did have a rather significant limp, it would not affect his ability to coach. “Good news is I’m not playing. I’m just on the sidelines watching, so if I have a little cool limp to add some swag, then you’ll know why,” he added.
As McVay prepares to lead his team into their next marquee matchup… His capacity to pivot and innovate, all while maintaining his trademark high-energy swag, will be key. The Rams’ performance against the Eagles will not only test their skills on the field but showcase McVay’s resilience as a coach.
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