Youngest NFL Coaches (Modern Era)

03/20/2026 - 5:50 PM

	Sean McVay (left) became the youngest head coach of the National Football League's modern era when the Los Angeles Rams choose him to guide their team on January 12, 2017. At age 30 years, 11 months, McVay is almost an entire year younger than Lane Kiffin who served as head coach of the Oakland Raiders for a season and a half. Kiffin compiled a 5-15 record from 2007-2008. Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time the Rams have hired a young coach to lead the franchise. Harland Svare earned his first coaching job when the Rams hired him in 1962 at just 31 years, 11 months old. Svare posted a 14-31-3 record in 3 1/2 seasons with Los Angeles. He later served as the head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 1971 to 1973.

Sean McVay (left) became the youngest head coach of the National Football League's modern era when the Los Angeles Rams choose him to guide their team on January 12, 2017.

At age 30 years, 11 months, McVay is almost an entire year younger than Lane Kiffin who served as head coach of the Oakland Raiders for a season and a half. Kiffin compiled a 5-15 record from 2007-2008.

Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time the Rams have hired a young coach to lead the franchise. Harland Svare earned his first coaching job when the Rams hired him in 1962 at just 31 years, 11 months old. Svare posted a 14-31-3 record in 3 1/2 seasons with Los Angeles. He later served as the head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 1971 to 1973.

Name, Team	Date of Birth	Age at Signing Date	Years
Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams	January 24, 1986	30 years, 11 months	2017
Lane Kiffin, Oakland Raiders	May 9, 1975	31 years, 8 months	2007-08
Harland Svare, Los Angeles Rams	November 25, 1930	31 years, 11 months	1962-65
John Michelosen, Pittsburgh Steelers	February 13, 1916	32 years, 2 months	1948-1951
Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers	September 3, 1976	32 years, 4 months	2009-2011
David Shula, Cincinnati Bengals	May 28, 1959	32 years, 7 months	1992-96
Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos	April 22, 1976	32 years, 8 months	2009-2010
John Madden, Oakland Raiders	April 10, 1936	32 years, 10 months	1969-1978
Don Shula, Baltimore Colts	January 4, 1930	33 years, 4 days	1963-69
Al Davis, Oakland Raiders	July 4, 1929	33 years, 6 months	1963-65
Joe Collier, Buffalo Bills	June 7, 1932	33 years, 7 months	1966-68
Bob Snyder, Los Angeles Rams	February 6, 1913	33 years, 11 month	1947
Jim Trimble, Philadelphia Eagles	May 29, 1918	34 years, 3 months	1952-55
Jon Gruden, Oakland Raiders	August 17, 1963	34 years, 5 months	1998-2001
Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers	May 8, 1957	34 years, 8 months, 13 days	1992-2006
Joe Kuharich, Chicago Cardinals	April 14, 1917	34 years, 8 months, 25 days	1952
Jack Christiansen, San Francisco 49ers	December 20, 1928	34 years, 9 months, 10 days	1963-67
Norm Van Brocklin, Minnesota Vikings	March 15, 1926	34 years, 10 months, 3 days	1961-66
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers	March 15, 1972	34 years, 10 months, 7 days	2007-present
Joe Schmidt, Detroit Lions	January 18, 1932	34 years, 11 months, 23 days	1967-1972
Eric Mangini, New York Jets	January 19, 1971	34 years, 11 months, 28 days	2006-08
Mike Shanahan, Los Angeles Raiders	August 24, 1952	35 years, 6 months	1988-89
Dick Nolan, San Francisco 49ers	March 26, 1932	35 years, 10 months	1968-1975