Sean McVay, the coach of the Los Angeles Rams, lost his grandfather John McVay, a businessman who was instrumental in starting the San Francisco 49ers’ success. He was 91.
McVay’s passing was revealed by the 49ers on Tuesday. They omitted to mention the cause of death.
Beginning in 1979, McVay worked in a variety of positions for the 49ers for 22 seasons. Together with coach Bill Walsh, he was a key contributor to the development of one of the league’s greatest dynasties, which resulted in five Super Bowl victories over the course of 14 seasons.
“This is a very sad day for our organization and the entire football community,” the team said in a statement. “John McVay was a driving force in constructing teams for our five Super Bowl titles. Most importantly, John was a Hall of Fame person who built genuine and sincere relationships with front office staff, coaches, and players. John’s commitment and contributions to the 49ers created the standard and tradition we strive to carry on today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the McVay family.”
“John was an outstanding executive and a class act,” Giants co-owner John Mara said in a statement. “He was a Hall of Famer professionally and especially as a person.”
Career Flashback of John McVay.
The San Francisco 49ers named their draft room the “John McVay Draft Room” in his honor after he was elected into their Hall of Fame in 2013.
In 1979, when Walsh was the Niners’ director of player personnel, McVay made his debut with the team. The following 17 seasons saw him hold a number of positions, including general manager and director of football operations. Together with athletes like Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young, he helped create the NFL’s premier organization.
In 1989, after the team won its fourth Super Bowl, McVay was awarded The Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year.
He formally rejoined the company in 1999 after his 1995 retirement and held the positions of vice president and director of football operations through the 2003 campaign.
McVay spent more than two seasons as the Giants’ head coach before moving on to the 49ers. His record for New York was 14–23, and his most notable game had Joe Pisarcik’s late fumble, which cost the Giants the chance to run out the clock. The 19-17 victory for Philadelphia on November 19, 1978, is now remembered as the “Miracle in the Meadowlands” thanks to Herm Edwards’ winning TD return.
NFC West rival team
Sean McVay, who was McVay’s grandson, followed him into the NFL and took over as head coach of the Rams, an NFC West rival team, in 2017. Last season, Sean McVay won his first championship and the sixth for the family. He has also played in two Super Bowls.
“John was such an instrumental influence on Sean and his leadership qualities permeate our entire organization through the relationship he had with his grandson,” the Rams said in a statement. “John’s legacy will live on forever and the marks he left on his family, our league, and our game will never be forgotten.”
John McVay’s family and his early life.
John McVay was born on January 5, 1931, in Bellaire, Ohio USA. He was 91 years old at the time of his passing.
McVay, who was raised in Massillon after leaving Bellaire, Ohio, played high school football for Massillon Washington High School and was named to the second team of all-Ohio players. Miami University was where McVay played collegiate football. John, Jim, and Tim were his three sons from a later marriage. Tim McVay’s grandson Sean serves as the Los Angeles Rams head coach at the moment.
McVay held coaching positions in a number of high schools in Ohio, at Michigan State University as an assistant coach, and later at the University of Dayton as head coach.
Wife and children of John McVay.
John McVay, Tim McVay, and Jim McVay are the three sons that McVay had from his marriage to Eva Lee. Sean McVay, Tim’s son, is currently the Los Angeles Rams head coach and is also an American football coach.