The Los Angeles Rams are getting closer to losing one of their young assistants. Passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase is considered a finalist for the Cleveland Browns’ head coach job, according to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.
Scheelhaase is scheduled for a second interview with the Browns after the NFC championship game. He interviewed with them virtually before the divisional round.
Scheelhaase’s name has been circling a lot during this head coach hiring cycle. The 35-year-old ex-Illinois quarterback has been with the Rams for the past two seasons, first as an offensive assistant and passing game specialist before taking on his current position. Scheelhaase had previously spent time in the college ranks coaching for his alma mater before moving up the ranks to become the offensive coordinator at Iowa State in 2023.
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He’s interviewed with a few other teams already, but the Browns appear to be the team most interested in Scheelhaase.
This wouldn’t be the first time a non-coordinator under Sean McVay immediately vaulted to head coach, either. Zac Taylor was the Rams’ quarterback coach for one season in 2018 before the Cincinnati Bengals hired him as their head coach in 2019.
There have been a few other ex-Rams assistants to earn head coaching roles, either immediately following their time with McVay or a year after. This includes current head coaches Matt Lafleur, Liam Coen and Kevin O’Connell. Raheem Morris and Brandon Staley are former McVay assistants who also earned head coaching roles, but have since been fired.
Being a finalist doesn’t mean he’ll get the job or even take the job. Scheelhaase may even want to see if a promotion in L.A. is on the table if offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur gets a head coaching role.
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In any event, he can’t interview until after the Rams face the Seahawks in the conference championship.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Report: Rams assistant considered a finalist for Browns head coach job
