02/20/26 11:32:00
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02/20 11:31 CST Rams promote Nate Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator, AP
source says
Rams promote Nate Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator, AP source says
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- The Los Angeles Rams are promoting assistant Nate
Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision
told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Rams haven't
made a full announcement of coach Sean McVay's new staff for the upcoming
season. Scheelhaase replaces Mike LaFleur, who became the Arizona Cardinals'
head coach this month.
The 35-year-old Scheelhaase became a rising star in NFL coaching circles last
season. He interviewed for at least five head coaching vacancies in the past
two months. He spent the previous two years as a top offensive assistant to
McVay and LaFleur, receiving the title of pass game coordinator last season
while the Rams went 14-6 and reached the NFC title game.
Although McVay calls Los Angeles' plays and leads the design of their offense,
Scheelhaase will be the Rams' fifth offensive coordinator during McVay's 10
seasons in charge. All four assistants who previously held that title have gone
on to become head coaches, as did Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor.
All five of those former top Rams assistants --- Matt LaFleur, Taylor, Kevin
O'Connell, Liam Coen and Mike LaFleur --- still hold those head coaching jobs.
The number might have been even higher, but McVay spent two seasons without a
designated offensive coordinator after Matt LaFleur's departure.
The 35-year-old Scheelhaase is a former Illinois quarterback who was on Matt
Campbell's staff at Iowa State from 2018 to 2023, eventually becoming the
Cyclones' offensive coordinator in his final season and leading a dramatic
improvement that caught McVay's attention.
Among his responsibilities in Los Angeles, Scheelhaase was tasked with
literally drawing the offensive plays taught to the Rams for each week's game
plan --- a detail-oriented job previously held by several Rams assistants who
went on to bigger things.
The Rams' offense was the NFL's best by many metrics last year, leading the
league in scoring and total yards during the regular season with AP NFL MVP
Matthew Stafford at the controls. Stafford has announced he is returning for an
18th NFL season. The Rams will be among the preseason favorites to contend for
a Super Bowl berth in their home SoFi Stadium in February 2027.
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