Steelers zero in on Rams' rising star Scheelhaase as first head coach interview, amidst a flurry of rival interest.
Nate Scheelhaase will become the first person to interview for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ vacant head coaching job on Friday.
Scheelhaase, 35, is in just his second season in the NFL as he serves as the Los Angeles Rams’ pass coordinator, but has already developed a strong reputation in league circles. Scheelhaase was promoted after spending his first year as a pass game specialist/offensive assistant on Sean McVay’s staff.
Friday figures to be a busy day for Scheelhaase, as he also has interviews scheduled for head-coaching jobs with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders.
The Steelers plan to interview Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter on Saturday to potentially replace Mike Tomlin, who resigned on Tuesday after 19 seasons. The Steelers have also requested interviews with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
The Rams led the NFL in passing offense this season and visit the Chicago Bears in an NFL Divisional playoff game on Sunday night.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford led the NFL with 4,707 yards passing and 46 touchdown passes during the regular season. Puka Nacua topped the league with 129 catches, and fellow wide receiver Davante Adams’ 14 TD receptions were first in the NFL.
Scheelhaase began his coaching career at Illinois, his alma mater, in 2015, spending three seasons as a running backs coach and offensive assistant. Scheelhaase moved on to Iowa State in 2018, where he coached running backs and wide receivers, served as the running game coordinator, and was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2023.
Scheelhaase was an outstanding dual-threat quarterback at Illinois from 2009-13 and is the school’s all-time leader in total offense with 10,634 yards, which also ranks seventh in Big Ten history. He is one of two Big Ten players to pass for 8,000 yards and rush for 2,000 yards in his career.
In 2011, Scheelhaase was the MVP of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. He was an All-Big Ten second team selection in 2013.