Marist remembers Sean McVay before his success leading Rams to Super Bowl LIII

The first time Tom Brady won a Super Bowl ring, Sean McVay was just 16 years old.

Now the Los Angeles Rams head coach, who turns 33 Thursday, will have chance to defeat Brady and the Patriots more than 17 years later in the place where he grew up.

"It's kind of ironic that the only Super Bowl that I've been to as a fan was the last time the Rams played the Titans," McVay said after winning NFC championship. "I was at that game. My Grandpa, when he was still involved in the NFL, he got me tickets for my birthday."

Channel 2's Berndt Petersen traveled to Marist School in DeKalb County, where the head coach is still beloved in the community.

"High school football is such a big part of what we do here at Marist School.  Former players like to come back and stay connected to the program, and Sean is no different," assistant coach Dan Perez told Petersen.

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McVay led the War Eagles to a AAAA state championship in 2003 and the trophy is proudly displayed in a case at the school.

It's been 15 years since McVay played football there, but Perez says it sometimes feels like yesterday.

The assistant coach told Petersen that McVay has not let success go to his head.

"He's not an ego guy.  Several times during the year he'll text or email coaches to get messages to the players.  He checks every Friday night to see how the War Eagles are doing. So, it's a really cool thing to have him stay connected to the kids."

Perez said everybody at Marist wishes they could be in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but at least their hearts will be there with McVay.

Cox Media Group