Rams HC McVay Says He Was 'a Dumbass' for Thinking It Was Cool to Work 18-Hour Days

Sean McVay spent most of his early coaching career grinding to the point he burned himself out and considered early retirement.

Now, he looks back on that period in his life with regret.

"I used to think it was cool to think you can go 18 hours," McVay told Stephen Holder of ESPN. "You know what that is? That's called being a dumbass."

McVay, now married with a son who was born last October, has made it a point to have a better work-life balance and sleeps seven hours per night. He said his mindset changed after the Rams went 5-12 during the 2022 season.

"My identity and security was tied to that result on Sunday, which was so unhealthy," McVay told Robert Mays on The Athletic Football Show. "In the midst of so many good things occurring, I became less resilient and less foundation-ally grounded in the relationships, values, and principles you know to be true. It took going 5-12 for that to really be exposed."

McVay is heading into his eighth season as Rams coach. He is tied for the fourth most-tenured coach in the NFL despite being just 38 years old. Only Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is younger than McVay among NFL coaches.

Now equipped with better balance in his life, McVay could wind up as one of the winningest coaches in NFL history if he wants to keep sticking around. That said, the interest from TV networks in bringing him to the broadcast booth isn't likely to end any time soon.