Rams' Sean McVay Has 'Tremendous Respect' For Broncos' Sean Payton

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay details what Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton brings to the table.

The Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos were among the few teams that severely underwhelmed last season as they both finished with a 5-12 record. 

Los Angeles won the Super Bowl in 2021, but injuries, trades and free agency riddled their team in 2022. Denver traded for nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson and hired coach Nathaniel Hackett last season, but both struggled and the latter was fired.

Former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton took a surprising year off from the NFL at the end of the 2021 season but accepted an offer from the Broncos after Hackett was fired.

Rams coach Sean McVay believes that Payton can lead Denver back in the right direction.

“I've always had tremendous respect for Sean," McVay said during Wednesday's press conference. "(Payton creates) physical, mental toughness, disciplined guys that play with an edge. He plays to the strengths of his team. He's a guy that sees the game from an all-22 lens and has complete command and control."

Experienced quarterbacks often face obstacles when they are placed on a new team and have to immediately learn and lead the new system.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford spent 12 years with the Detroit Lions before joining the Rams in the 2020-21 offseason. Lucky for Los Angeles, Stafford obviously shined in his first season on the team, but Wilson was a different story.

As Wilson heads into his second season in Denver, McVay explained the best ways for a coach and new quarterback to develop.

“(If you) connect, communicate, and build a rapport, then we both know that the quarterback is the most important spot," McVay said. "You want to make sure that you're building a system that accentuates their skill sets."

McVay gave the example of former long-time Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Brees, who came to New Orleans at the same time as Payton, built "an extension to the coaching staff for so many years."

McVay believes that he's on the right track in accomplishing that with Stafford and "it'll be the same thing for Payton and Wilson."

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