Rams Promote Nate Scheelhaase to Offensive Coordinator, Elevate Dave Ragone to Co-OC

The Los Angeles Rams are making strategic internal promotions to maintain the momentum of their elite offense, according to sources who spoke with ESPN. The team is elevating passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase to the role of offensive coordinator and promoting quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone to co-offensive coordinator, while he will continue his duties coaching the quarterbacks. This restructuring aims to preserve continuity for an offensive unit that led the NFL last season and will return veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Staffing Changes and Background

The need for a new offensive coordinator arose in early February when Mike LaFleur departed the Rams to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Scheelhaase, 35, was a logical internal candidate for promotion. He remained with the Rams this offseason despite interviewing for five different head coaching positions, demonstrating both his value to the organization and the high regard in which he is held around the league. Scheelhaase originally joined the Rams in 2024 after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State.

Nate Scheelhaase's Role and Promotion

In his previous role as passing game coordinator, Scheelhaase was entrusted with a critical, detail-oriented task: he was responsible for literally drawing the offensive plays that were installed each week as part of the game plan. This responsibility has historically been a stepping stone within Sean McVay's coaching tree, with several assistants who previously held the role moving on to become head coaches. His promotion to offensive coordinator signifies the Rams' confidence in his understanding of McVay's system and his ability to help lead the unit.

Continuity for a Top Offense

The primary driver behind these internal promotions is continuity. The Rams boasted the number one offense in the NFL during the 2025 season. A significant factor in maintaining that success is the return of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who announced his intention to play in 2026 when he accepted the NFL MVP award. Keeping the offensive structure familiar for Stafford and the rest of the unit is a clear priority for head coach Sean McVay.

Sean McVay's Coaching Tree

This latest coordinator promotion continues a notable trend under McVay. The Rams have now had four offensive coordinators during his tenure: Matt LaFleur (2017), Kevin O'Connell (2020-21), Liam Coen (2022), and Mike LaFleur (2023-25). Remarkably, all four have gone on to become NFL head coaches, as did former Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor. McVay, who calls the plays and leads the offensive design, did not have a formal offensive coordinator for the two seasons between Matt LaFleur and Kevin O'Connell, highlighting how the structure can flex while the core philosophy remains.

Dave Ragone's Expanded Role

Alongside Scheelhaase's promotion, quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone is receiving an expanded title as co-offensive coordinator while continuing in his role directly mentoring the quarterbacks, including Stafford. Ragone also joined the Rams in 2024, bringing prior experience as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, where he served for three seasons. His dual role ensures a direct and consistent link between the offensive coordination and the quarterback room.

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season

With the offensive coordinator positions now filled, the Rams' coaching staff is taking shape for the 2026 campaign. The team had already added former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to the staff earlier in the month. The combination of promoting from within and adding experienced external voices like Kingsbury suggests the Rams are focused on evolving their already-successful offense without undergoing a major philosophical overhaul. The stability provided by Stafford's return and these coaching promotions positions the Rams as likely contenders to field one of the league's most potent offenses once again.