The Los Angeles Rams named Sean McVay their new head coach more than eight years ago, but he remembers it like it was yesterday.
McVay recounted one of the most critical moments of his interview process with the Rams — a final dinner at the famous restaurant Spago in Beverly Hills. McVay told ESPN’s Peter Schrager that he thought he had the job in the bag but still needed to meet with Rams legend Marshall Faulk, team president Kevin Demoff and owner Stan Kroenke.
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But during their meeting, someone else showed up: Legendary chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck, who also owned the restaurant.
“Wolfgang Puck comes up to the table because he’s a big Rams fan,” McVay said.” He and Mr. Kroenke have a relationship, and look like I am 15 years old, right? So, he says, ‘Hey, when are we going to get the new coach?’ It was such an awkward moment where he comes up, he’s asking, “Hey, where’s the new head coach? When are we going to get the new coach?’ And we’re all kind of looking at each other like maybe it’s me, maybe it’s not. Surely he’s not thinking it’s me. So, that was a real funny uncomfortable moment that nobody knew how to really answer.”
The hiring seems to be working out well for L.A., though. McVay is the winningest coach in franchise history, appeared in two Super Bowls, won one and made the playoffs more times than he’s missed them.
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But, again, this was when McVay was only 30 years old. And he went from an assistant in Washington to the bright lights of L.A. and the glamor of celebrity chefs and restaurants.
He’s come a long way since then.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Sean McVay had an unexpected guest at final interview for Rams’ job