Nate Scheelhaase play calling set for Rams opener vs Chiefs
Sean McVay announced that offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase will call plays in the Rams’ season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, a deliberate evaluative rep reported by Turf Show Times
The move gives Scheelhaase controlled, live-game play-calling experience while McVay retains regular-season play-calling responsibilities, which matters for how the staff evaluates sequencing and in-game adjustments.
Key Takeaways
- Nate Scheelhaase will call plays in the Rams’ season opener as a planned preseason evaluative assignment.
- This assignment will be Scheelhaase’s second preseason game calling plays after his debut against the L.A. Chargers last year.
- The decision preserves Sean McVay’s regular-season play-calling role while creating a live-game environment to assess Scheelhaase’s in-game management.
- Preseason play-calling reps add to Scheelhaase’s visible tape and follow reporting that he interviewed for multiple head-coaching jobs during the 2026 cycle.
Scheelhaase play-calling assignment
The assignment gives Scheelhaase a second preseason stretch of play calling and places him in controlled live-game conditions to run the offense.
Scheelhaase began his coaching career in 2015 at Illinois, served as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator in 2023, and is entering his third NFL season as an assistant under McVay.
Using the preseason for these reps lets the staff observe sequencing, tempo and in-game adjustments without altering the regular-season operating model.
How Scheelhaase fits the McVay coaching pipeline
Several former McVay assistants — Matt LaFleur, Mike LaFleur, Kevin O’Connell, Zac Taylor, Raheem Morris, Brandon Staley and Liam Coen — advanced to coordinator or head roles after time on Los Angeles’ staff.
Reporting noted Scheelhaase interviewed for multiple head-coaching jobs during the 2026 hiring cycle, with ESPN reporting five interviews and NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah describing positive impressions from those meetings.
Preseason play-calling reps expand a coordinator’s visible tape so evaluators can assess play design, personnel usage, scripting and leadership under live snaps.
Play-caller backgrounds compared
| Name | Background noted in reporting | Called regular-season plays under McVay |
|---|---|---|
| Nate Scheelhaase | Entered coaching in 2015; Iowa State OC in 2023; entering third NFL season as McVay assistant | No |
| Matt LaFleur | Former McVay assistant who advanced to higher-profile coordinator and head roles after Los Angeles tenure | No |
| Kevin O’Connell | Former McVay assistant who moved on to coordinator or head opportunities following time on the staff | No |
SEC roster construction implications
The evaluative rep matters for roster construction because it produces live-game tape that clarifies how the Rams’ play script fits the quarterbacks mentioned in reporting, including Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson, under game conditions.
That clarity influences active-roster and depth-chart decisions and shapes the film evaluators use during league hiring cycles, even though it does not directly change SEC standings or College Football Playoff positioning.
