Though he has put his own spin on a lot of the stuff he does with the Vikings, O’Connell still speaks glowingly about his time with the Rams. He referenced how he was actively involved in the preparation on a weekly basis and how that played a role in building his confidence.

As they face off on "Thursday Night Football," here's what to know about the relationship between the two NFL head coaches.

Sean McVay has grown a healthy coaching tree in his eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Five of his former assistants have become NFL head coaches, while several more have been poached for bigger jobs in college and the pros.