Sean McVay’s Race to 10 Postseason Wins Before 40: Can He Rewrite NFL History?

Sean McVay was a mere whisper shy of turning 31 when the Rams handed him the keys to their head coaching gig back in 2017—and boy, has he made the most of that early break. Fast forward nine seasons, and McVay’s name isn’t just familiar—it’s etched in playoff lore. His recent victory over the Bears marked his 10th playoff win, a staggering figure that’s twice the total any other coach managed before hitting the big 4-0. Now, that’s what I call leaving your mark early on. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the likes of John Madden, Jon Gruden, Mike Tomlin, and Zac Taylor are trailing behind with just half that number (five). But here’s the kicker: McVay’s still climbing, tied with legends like Bill Walsh and Sean Payton for 16th place on the all-time playoff wins list. If McVay and Payton clash in the Super Bowl, the victor won’t just take home a ring—they’ll ascend to a top-10 coach ranking alongside Tom Coughlin and Bill Cowher. Talk about rewriting history books. LEARN MORE

Sean McVay was almost 31 when he landed the Rams’ head coaching job in 2017 and he’s enjoyed quite a bit of success in his nine seasons with the team.

Sunday’s win over the Bears was the 10th playoff win of his career. That’s double the amount that any other coach won before their 40th birthday.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, John Madden, Jon Gruden, Mike Tomlin and Zac Taylor are next on the list with five postseason victories before hitting 40.

McVay’s 10 career playoff wins also tie him with Bill Walsh, George Seifert, and Sean Payton for the 16th-most among all coaches. If McVay and Payton both advance to the Super Bowl, the winner will end the season tied with Tom Coughlin and Bill Cowher for ninth place on the all-time list.