Sean McVay’s coaching tree added another branch on Sunday with the reported news that Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has been hired to be the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach.
LaFleur, 38, spent the last three seasons with the Rams, serving as offensive coordinator during a period in which McVay began to delegate more offensive game planning responsibilities to his offensive staff. While he did not call plays for the Rams, he was collaborative during that in-game process and played a big role in offensive installs during the week at practices.
McVay has had four offensive coordinators during his nine seasons with the Rams, and all four are now NFL head coaches — LaFleur’s brother Matt with the Packers, Kevin O’Connell with the Vikings, Liam Coen with the Jaguars and now LaFleur with the Cardinals.
LaFleur also makes it three members of the McVay-Kyle Shanahan coaching tree in the NFC West, with Shanahan coaching the 49ers.
As the Rams turn their attention to replacing LaFleur, an in-house candidate will loom large. Passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase interviewed for head coaching positions this winter, but wound up back with the Rams. His internal reputation is very strong both in the front office and with the locker room.
“His ability to communicate what our job is on Wednesday through Sunday is something that I’d say has been a blessing in our room,” wide receiver Puka Nacua said of Scheelhaase in January. “His ability to understand how we operate, but then also to be on the same page as the quarterbacks, be on the same page when the groupings have changed from 13-personnel to 11. He’s done a great job every step of the way of making sure everybody is on the same page.”