Reports: Former Rockhurst star getting buzz as NFL head coaching candidate

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - One of the biggest stars in Kansas City high school football history is receiving buzz for an elevated role in the National Football League.

Rockhurst alum and Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase has received head coaching interview requests from the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, according to a report Monday from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Scheelhaase, who in 2007 became the first underclassman ever to win the Thomas A. Simone Award as the best high school football player in the Kansas City metro, is an intriguing coaching candidate for offensive coordinator and head coaching gigs in the NFL after beginning his career in the college ranks.

Scheelhaase, who starred at the University of Illinois and set school records for total offense, coached at Illinois from 2015-17, then moved to Iowa State, where he coached various positions and became the offensive coordinator in 2023.

In 2024, the Rockhurst alum moved to the NFL as an offensive assistant for the Rams. This year, he’s been the pass game coordinator for the No. 1 passing offense. The Rams offense has the MVP favorite in quarterback Matthew Stafford and led the NFL in scoring this year.

Scheelhaase could follow a pipeline of former Sean McVay assistants to move into a head coaching gig, with Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur and Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor all having experience with him before eventually becoming head coaches in the NFL.