What should fans expect from 2 Rams staff in NFL's accelerator program

How do the Los Angeles Rams continue to find success despite the annual tradition of 31 other NFL teams poaching executives and coaches from LA's staff? Well, rather than restrict personal growth, Los Angeles embraces the opportunity to develop coaches and executives for ever-increasing roles.

As a result, the brightest and best candidates actively seek out the Horns to catapult their respective careers to the next level. Right now, assistant general manager John McKay and offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase are on the fast track in the NFL for ever-larger roles.

Both recently participated in the NFL's revamped accelerator program that features just 34 high profile NFL coaches and executives. That's an impressive participation rate considering all 32 NFL team all have opportunities to recommend executives or coaches for the program.

The NFL's accelerator program creates a network for some of the brightest minds in the NFL with counterparts in other roles and responsibilities who are expected to take leading roles in the NFL.

Rams NFL accelerator progam participation shows investment in people

The annual exodus of bright executives and coaches forces the LA Rams to adopt measures to rapidly develop talent to fill those roles. And it's that rapid promotion and success at placing staff into significant roles on other NFL teams that attracts the best of the bunch.

Who are the most likely young staff members who will be poached away at season's end? It's the same people who participated in the 2026 NFL accelerator program.

AGM John McKay

After the Jacksonville Jaguars hired former Rams personnel executive James Gladstone to their vacated general manager role. LA instantly promoted John McKay to the assistant general manager role. McKay was instrumental in scouting multiple rookies since 2016. He has since risen through the ranks to ever-increasing responsibility

His successor will likely be Nicole Blake, the current Director of Scouting, Strategy, and Analytics. LA is grooming both, as they held a joint press conference to sum up the team's Day 3 selections of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Yes, they appear to be very young in the video.

OC Nate Scheelhaase

After the team lost offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. The team made several coaching changes. The most prominent change was the promotion of Nate Scheelhaase to the vacated offensive coordinator role.

Scheelhaase popped onto LA's radar as an offensive innovator with Iowa State in 2023. He joined the Rams coaching staff in 2024 and has been rising through the ranks rapidly. Many fans wonder what new wrinkles he will introduce to the offense in 2025. Fans are well within their rights to have mixed feelings about his debut.

Too successful? Other NFL teams will make him an offer he can't refuse. Too unsuccessful? The offense will suffer in 2026.

Inevitably, both McVay and Scheelhaase will eventually leave for other NFL teams to further their respective careers. Rather than fight that outcome, Los Angeles embraces that fate. In the process, the team ensures the best talent remains in the queue to take over.

As always, thanks for reading.

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