Another rising Los Angeles Rams assistant could be on the move sooner rather than later. In an ESPN roundtable this week, analysts Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler discussed how teams may need to widen their searches beyond traditional coordinator pipelines. With fewer breakout play-calling coordinators available, Graziano floated the idea that teams may consider position coaches or developmental assistants who demonstrate head-coach traits.
“Could teams start looking beyond the coordinator positions to position coaches with potential, such as Josh McCown in Minnesota,” Graziano said. “He has been on head coach interviews in the past and is well regarded.”
Fowler expanded the list — and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase made the cut.
“Yes, this seems like the ideal year to explore young change-of-pace options beyond the trendy coordinator names… Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase come to mind in that mold.”
That’s the first time Scheelhaase has been explicitly named in a national outlet as a future head coach — and it reinforces how the league viewed him during those attempted poaching efforts earlier in the year.
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Rams Development Pipeline — and Scheelhaase’s First Play-Calling Reps
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One reason Rams assistants often ascend quickly is Sean McVay’s commitment to developing future leaders. Every preseason, he hands off real-time play-calling duties to multiple assistants, giving them the kind of experience typically reserved for coordinators.
This year was no different.
In Week 1, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and ILBs coach Greg Williams called plays in a win over Dallas. For Week 2, McVay turned the offense over to Nate Scheelhaase while defensive coordinator Chris Shula handled the defense.
It was Scheelhaase’s first NFL play-calling opportunity — and while the preseason naturally limits schematic creativity, the game still offered a meaningful snapshot of his approach.
The Rams ran 76 plays, leaned pass-heavy, and operated out of 11 personnel on 98.6% of snaps, a structure consistent with Scheelhaase’s collegiate background. Motions, spacing concepts, and QB-friendly progressions all mirrored traits seen during his tenure as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator.
Again, it was intentionally vanilla. But it was a real data point — and one more box checked on the journey from rising assistant to future coordinator and beyond.
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Why Scheelhaase’s Stock Keeps Rising
Scheelhaase’s ascent is rooted in more than scheme. Coaches and players consistently praise his clarity, command, and ability to connect across position groups.
McVay put it simply:
“We’ve been really fortunate to have Nate. He’s a great coach, a rare communicator, and incredibly sharp. His perspective is big-picture. He makes everyone around him better.”
Before joining the Rams, Scheelhaase served as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator, elevating their scoring attack, developing Brock Purdy in college, and producing elite red-zone efficiency (31-for-33 scoring). When the Rams hired him in 2024 as a pass game specialist, his impact was immediate. His promotion to passing game coordinator came quickly — as did interest from other teams.
The Buccaneers and Jaguars each made serious attempts to lure him away this offseason. The Rams blocked that exodus, recognizing that losing him would be more than a staff adjustment — it would be losing a future playcaller they believe in.
A Name to Watch in 2025 — and Beyond
Scheelhaase may not be a coordinator yet, but his trajectory mirrors that of previous McVay protégés who fast-tracked into major roles — Zac Taylor, Kevin O’Connell, Matt LaFleur.
With ESPN now placing him squarely in the head-coach conversation, his rise is no longer just internal buzz. It’s public, documented, and accelerating.
And the Rams — for at least this season — still get to benefit from it.