With just two teams left standing on the road to the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves watching from home-and turning their full attention to one of the most critical hires of their offseason: offensive coordinator.
To put it bluntly, the Eagles’ search hasn’t gone as smoothly as they’d hoped. A number of top-tier candidates have already come off the board, and the coaching pool is thinning fast.
That’s pushed Philly into exploring some unconventional options, including names like Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle-a coach with no NFL play-calling experience. It’s a bold pivot, and it signals just how wide open the Eagles are keeping their eyes as they try to chart the course for their next offensive leader.
But with the Rams officially out of the playoff picture, a new name has emerged-and it might just be the most intriguing of the bunch.
Nathan Scheelhaase: A Rising Star Worth the Gamble
Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase is suddenly a name to watch. He’s been generating serious buzz in league circles, and for good reason.
The Rams just put together the NFL’s top passing offense, and they did it with 37-year-old Matthew Stafford at the helm. Stafford looked sharp all season and even sharper in the playoffs, and that success reflects well on the offensive minds behind the scenes-Scheelhaase chief among them.
Scheelhaase has only been with the Rams for two seasons, but his impact is being felt. Before joining Sean McVay’s staff, he served as offensive coordinator at Iowa State, so while he hasn’t called plays at the NFL level, he’s no stranger to designing and directing an offense. That experience matters, even if it came at the collegiate level.
Now, there’s a twist: Scheelhaase is reportedly a finalist for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching job. If he lands that role, the Eagles’ window to grab him closes.
But if he doesn’t? Then the offensive coordinator market may open up in a big way, and Philly could have a real shot at landing one of the league’s most promising young minds.
A Calculated Risk the Eagles May Need to Take
Let’s be clear-Scheelhaase doesn’t check every box. He’s not a seasoned NFL play-caller, and the Eagles have made it known they’d prefer someone with that kind of experience.
But when the top-tier options are gone and the search isn’t yielding the expected results, it’s time to think creatively. And Scheelhaase is exactly the kind of high-upside candidate who could pay off in a big way.
He’s got the pedigree, he’s worked under one of the best offensive minds in the game, and he’s helped engineer a passing attack that gave defenses fits all year. That’s not something you ignore-especially when your own offense needs a spark.
The Eagles are already looking at unconventional names like Doyle. Scheelhaase belongs in that same conversation.
He may not be the safe pick, but he could be the right one. And if Philly wants to get ahead of the next wave of offensive innovators, this might be their chance.