Despite never working with one another, Sean McVay and Vikings starting QB Sam Darnold have more connections and similarities than one would assume.
McVay was the Rams’ head coach when Darnold was playing his final two years at USC, both playing their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Darnold has played under Kyle Shanahan, whom McVay worked with in Washington, and currently plays for Kevin O’Connell, who was the Rams’ offensive coordinator from 2020-2021.
When speaking of Darnold, McVay complimented him and the Vikings coaching staff ahead of Thursday night’s matchup.
“I think they’re doing a great job. You see a guy that can create off-schedule. I think he’s playing in rhythm, on time, understands the intent of what Kevin’s calling,” McVay said Monday. “I’ve seen a guy that uses his athleticism to be able to move the sticks a lot and I see his teammates have a bunch of confidence in him. A lot of the things that made him such a highly rated prospect coming out of USC. I think he’s in a good situation obviously with a coach that I have tremendous respect for. You can see there’s a comfort that those two have and then I’m seeing the athleticism when things do break down and go a little bit outside the timing and rhythm, where he’s made a bunch of plays.”
This week’s matchup will be very interesting as Darnold’s future in Minnesota remains murky despite his excellent start. Darnold is set to be a free agent after the season and the Vikings spent their 2024 first-round pick on Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy.
With an aging Matthew Stafford and Darnold’s familiarity with McVay’s scheme, might Darnold’s future lead him back to Los Angeles?
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Sean McVay praises Sam Darnold ahead of Thursday’s Rams-Vikings game