Washington Redskins fans don’t think high of head coach Jay Gruden, however, offensive mastermind Sean McVay does. The Los Angeles Rams head coach said he was thankful for the opportunity Gruden gave him as an offensive coordinator during Monday’s Super Bowl Opening Night.
Gruden named McVay the Redskins offensive coordinator in 2014 as he became the head coach of the team. In three seasons the Redskins offense improved under McVay, who was 28 years of age when he became the Redskins play-caller.
“Jay [Gruden] is as big a reason as anybody why I even had the opportunities,” McVay said JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington . “Nobody else would have given me a chance to be an offensive coordinator.”
Washington’s offense peaked in 2016 as the third-ranked offense in the NFL, as Kirk Cousins threw for over 4,000 yards in McVay’s last two seasons in Washington.
“The confidence that he instilled in me, the ability to be able to learn and grow as a coach under his leadership and guidance, I couldn’t be more thankful for Jay Gruden,” McVay said. “He’s special to me. He’s a great football coach and there’s no chance I would be in this opportunity if it wasn’t for him.”
McVay has guided the Rams to the Super Bowl in just his second season as head coach. The Rams offense has finished 10th and second in McVay’s first two seasons respectively and first and second in points scored.
McVay has won 26 games in his first two seasons and is one win away from winning the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Redskins offense has had quite the drop-off since McVay’s departure, finishing 16th and 28th the last two seasons without him.
With Gruden’s lack of success in five seasons as the Redskins head coach, many question if McVay should have been promoted to head coach preventing him from leaving for Los Angeles. While, there is going to be debate from fans, it appears the one person many regard as the best offensive mind in the league, views Gruden with higher acclaim.
