Cooper Kupp, former wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, has shared an unusual detail about his former head coach Sean McVay's dedication to self-improvement: McVay would rewatch his own speeches to the team.
Kupp discussed this practice on the "Games with Names" podcast, hosted by Julian Edelman. He explained that McVay, who was hired by the Rams at 30 years old in 2017, was highly critical of himself and aimed to be the best coach possible.
"I think that was a super important thing for him," Kupp said of McVay's self-review. "He was my age when he was the head coach of the LA Rams. I can understand being critical and wanting to learn from all this. This is your first time leading a team meeting."
This revelation about McVay's coaching methods was initially surfaced by former Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth on the "3 & Out with John Middlekauff" podcast. Whitworth expressed his admiration for McVay's commitment after witnessing this self-study approach.
McVay's hiring at a young age marked a significant shift in the NFL, influencing other teams to consider younger coaching candidates. Kupp, who spent his first eight seasons with the Rams after being drafted in 2017, benefited from McVay's leadership. During the Rams' Super Bowl-winning season, Kupp had a standout performance, earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors with 1,947 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns, and 145 receptions.
Kupp attributed much of his career success to late-night film sessions with McVay. He noted that McVay's drive to avoid letting people down fueled many of his actions, including his efforts to motivate and connect with the team.
"He finds ways to motivate people and connect with them. I think he does a really good job of that," Kupp added.