Sean McVay's Rams revolutionized 2026 NFL offenses with a dramatic shift to 13 personnel after Puka Nacua's ankle injury forced a pivot from their traditional 11-personnel dominance. The move, averaging 0.22 expected points added per play, marked a historic efficiency surge unseen since the 2018 Chiefs. Matthew Stafford's MVP season and a 5.0-yard-per-carry rushing average underscored the strategy's viability, defying decades of pass-heavy trends.

The Rams' 39% 13-personnel usage against the Jaguars - a stark contrast to their 2024 zero-snap usage - sparked league-wide interest. Predecessors like the 2007 Patriots and 2018 Rams pioneered this approach, but McVay's analytics-driven adaptation proved most potent. Teams now face the challenge of replicating LA's success while avoiding overreliance on a single playbook.

Key to adoption: Balancing veteran tight ends with developmental assets. While the Falcons and Bengals experimented with similar schemes, McVay's hybrid approach - blending pass protection and receiving - created a unique blueprint. The 2026 draft class's ability to fill these roles will determine how many teams follow suit.

2026 implications: The NFL's tight end renaissance may reshape defensive strategies. With the league averaging 15+ tight end targets per game last season, McVay's framework offers a tangible path to offensive dominance. Teams must now decide: evolve with the Rams or risk being left behind in the passing era.