The Rams have tabbed Nate Scheelhaase to be their offensive coordinator.
The only question now is, how soon will they have to find a replacement for a young coach who is already drawing interest as a future NFL head coach?
The 35-year-old Scheelhaase served as the Rams’ pass game coordinator for the last two seasons, and is now being elevated to a coveted position working directly with head coach Sean McVay.
That is no small thing, considering McVay’s ever-growing track record of producing future head coaches, specifically his offensive coordinators.
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McVay’s coaching tree includes former Rams offensive coordinators Zac Taylor (Bengals), Matt LaFleur (Packers), Kevin O’Connell (Vikings), Liam Coen (Jaguars), and Mike LaFleur, now the head coach of the Cardinals.
In addition, former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley became the Chargers’ head coach.
Up steps Scheelhaase, who replaces Mike LaFleur, and is an emerging this year as a coveted coaching prospect in his own right.
Scheelhaase interviewed with the Ravens, Browns, Steelers and Raiders head coach openings during this cycle, and based on how highly he’s thought of and the history of former Rams offensive coordinators becoming head coaches, it’s likely only a matter of time before he moves on for a bigger opportunity.
Before joining the Rams, Scheelhaase was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State.
McVay will remain as the chief architect of a Rams offense that led the league in scoring at 30.5 points per game, but his lieutenants now include Scheelhaase and former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who was hired last month as an offensive assistant.
Kingsbury spent the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Commanders.
The Rams are well positioned to field another high-level offense, especially now that quarterback Matthew Stafford has re-committed to them for at least one more season. Stafford is coming off a season in which he earned his first MVP trophy while throwing for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns.
Stafford has plenty of supporting cast members, including wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, running back Kyren Williams, and a bevy of tight ends that emerged as a force in the Rams’ effective “13” personnel grouping.
A native of Ames, Iowa, Scheelhaase played quarterback at Illinois from 2009 to 2013 before transitioning to coaching in 2015. He moved on to Iowa State in 2018 as the running backs coach. He eventually climbed the ladder to offensive coordinator in 2023.
