The Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff earned national recognition after Sports Illustrated ranked defensive coordinator Chris Shula and offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase among the top coordinator pairings in the NFL, placing them behind only the Denver Broncos’ duo.
Resume building, not pedigree
Analysts credited both coaches for carving reputations on performance rather than merely riding the coattails of the Sean McVay coaching tree. Shula has been praised for taking over and improving a defense that previously operated on a shoestring budget, converting mid-round picks and bargain free agents into a reliable unit.
That work, Sports Illustrated says, underpins expectations that the Rams’ defensive outlook has shifted dramatically after the franchise spent aggressively this offseason to acquire veterans including Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. The arrivals raise the possibility that Los Angeles could field one of the league’s best defenses.
Scheelhaase’s quick climb
Scheelhaase, entering his third NFL season, drew attention for his time as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator and for his work last season with the Rams as pass-game coordinator. While he may not officially call plays as McVay’s offensive chief, the production credited to the Rams’ passing attack and the individual success of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford — who captured his first MVP — bolstered Scheelhaase’s national profile.
- Shula: turned an inexpensive defense into a top-10 unit in each of his two seasons as coordinator; interviewed for five head-coaching jobs.
- Scheelhaase: rose rapidly from college OC to NFL staffer; drew interest from multiple teams after his early NFL seasons.
- Front-office moves: the trades for Garrett and McDuffie signaled a major investment in the Rams’ defense.
Head-coach prospects and McVay’s influence
Both coordinators are viewed as credible head-coaching candidates for the 2027 cycle, Sports Illustrated reported. Shula’s track record of maximizing limited resources helped earn him several interviews, and Scheelhaase’s brief but impressive résumé already drew interest from teams including the Browns, Raiders, Ravens and Steelers.
The piece also noted the broader context of working under McVay. The Rams’ head coach has a history of producing assistants who move into prominent roles around the league, and the organization fosters opportunities for staff to run meetings and present schemes — a development environment credited by teammates and alumni alike.
| Coordinator | Noted strength | Head-coach interest |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Shula | Defensive turnaround, efficiency | Five interviews |
| Nate Scheelhaase | Pass-game design, rapid ascent | Interest from Browns, Raiders, Ravens, Steelers |
For a Rams franchise that spent the offseason upgrading its defensive personnel, the pairing of a rising defensive architect and a burgeoning offensive mind creates a narrative beyond rankings: Los Angeles has retooled to win now, and its coordinators are being judged not only by Xs and Os but by how their systems translate into immediate success. Whether those evaluations translate into head-coaching hires in the near future will be one of the league’s storylines to watch as the 2027 hiring cycle approaches.
