With Matt Campbell off to Penn State, Rams pass-game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase figures to be a prime candidate for the Iowa State opening. Scheelhaase coached under Campbell from 2018-23, and is highly regarded in both college and pro football.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 5, 2025
Sean McVay’s assistants are always a hot commodity during the offseason when other teams are looking to add to or upgrade their coaching staff. There are several NFL head coaches right now who were former Rams assistants, and defensive coordinator Chris Shula is believed to be the next man who could be poached to lead another team.
Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer thinks another name could enter the coach hiring cycle: Rams pass-game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase. However, Breer thinks Scheelhaase could be a “prime candidate” for the head coaching job in college at Iowa State, where Scheelhaase coached for six years.
“With Matt Campbell off to Penn State, Rams pass-game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase figures to be a prime candidate for the Iowa State opening,” Breer wrote on X. “Scheelhaase coached under Campbell from 2018-23, and is highly regarded in both college and pro football.”
Scheelhaase, 34, joined the Rams in 2024 his time on Campbell’s staff with the Cyclones. He began as a running backs coach in 2018, then as a receivers coach and then offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2023.
Scheelhaase is young, but his name was already getting buzz as an up-and-coming name in the coaching ranks. He interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ and Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive coordinator vacancies before McVay promoted him to his current role.
This is all speculation at this point, as Campbell hasn’t even officially been hired to lead the Nittany Lions. But, at the very least, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Iowa State look for a familiar face to take over its football program, and who better than someone who’s cut his teeth in the NFL working under the best offensive mind in the game.