As NFL teams with head coaching openings begin preparing for the 2026 season, ESPN reporter Peter Schrager says former Iowa State assistant Nate Scheelhaase is generating “legit buzz” around league coaching circles.
Schrager shared his reporting on social media on Wednesday afternoon.
Scheelhaase left Iowa State after the 2023 season where he was the Cyclones offensive coordinator to become the pass game coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. Scheelhaase has been in various positions with the Cyclones since 2018 before taking over as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2023. In 2022, Iowa State finished dead last under Tom Manning in total yards, rushing yards per game, and points per game. In Scheelhaase’s first year as the team’s OC, he helped the team flip the script regarding offensive production.
Scheelhaase helped multiple members of Iowa State’s offense earn All-League honors with Rocco Becht, Jaylin Noel, and Stevo Klotz. Becht was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Second-Team Freshman All-American after passing more than 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. Noel recorded 66 grabs for 820 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior, while Stevo Klotz earned recognition as one of the league’s top fullbacks.
LA Rams and Scheelhaase
Several current head coaches were former assistants under Rams head coach Sean McVay, including Liam Coen, Kevin O’Connell, Matt LaFleur, and Zac Taylor. And in addition to Schrager’s report, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated wrote that Scheelhaase would be a good fit to replace Pete Carroll with the Las Vegas Raiders, given his background as a former quarterback and the Raiders’ solid offensive corps that features Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.
It would be a big jump for Scheelhaase, but it wouldn’t be the first time a non-play caller under McVay earned a head coaching job. Zac Taylor was McVay’s quarterbacks coach for one season in 2018 before he took the head coaching position with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019 at age 36.
