The Los Angeles Rams are promoting pass game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Scheelhaase is replacing former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who left to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
Per Schefter, Rams quarterback's coach Dave Ragone will also serve as co-offensive coordinator.
Scheelhaase's promotion puts him on track to have a strong shot at landing a head coaching job in the next few years. Scheelhaase was a finalist for the Cleveland Browns head coaching position before they decided to hire former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Scheelhaase also interviewed for the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coaching job before they hired Mike McCarthy.
Despite head coach McVay controlling the play-calling duties, four of the Rams' last five offensive coordinators have landed head coaching jobs in the NFL.
Scheelhaase has spent the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, first as an offensive assistant and passing game specialist, then as pass game coordinator.
This is the first time Scheelhaase has served as an offensive coordinator since 2023 at Iowa State under Penn State head coach Matt Campbell. He worked at Iowa State for four years in roles including running game coordinator, running backs coach, and wide receivers coach before taking over as offensive coordinator.
Before his coaching days at Iowa State, Scheelhaase coached at his alma mater, the University of Illinois. He spent three years there, first in football operations, then as the running backs coach and as an offensive assistant in his final year. Scheelhaase was a former quarterback at the University of before he transitioned to coaching.
The Rams are coming off a season in which they ranked first in total and passing yards, highlighted by a career year from quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
Stafford threw for 4,707 yards and a career-high 46 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, which is his career low when playing a full season, despite coming into the year with a back injury. Stafford is a finalist to win MVP this season.
Nacua had 129 catches, 1,715 yards, 10 touchdowns and is a finalist for offensive player of the year. Adams added 60 catches for 789 yards and led the league with 14 touchdowns despite missing three games with a hamstring injury