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Aquinas grad Nick Caley leaves Bill Belichick for Los Angeles Rams to join Sean McVay

steve doerschuk, the repository
·2 min read

An NFL coach with Stark County roots has changed teams, giving himself a chance to compare Super Bowl rings with a new boss.

Nick Caley, the longest-tenured offensive assistant on the New England Patriots in 2022, has been hired by Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay as tight ends coach. The move was first reported by Sports Illustrated on Sunday night.

Caley, 40, played high school football at St. Thomas Aquinas and spent some time in the program at Walsh University.

New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley talks to reporters, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at the team's stadium, in Foxborough, Mass.
New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley talks to reporters, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at the team's stadium, in Foxborough, Mass.

He joined the Rams after exploring offensive coordinator possibilities. He spent the previous eight seasons in New England, including the last six as tight ends coach.

The Rams hired Mike LaFleur as offensive coordinator on Jan. 27. LaFleur, who began his NFL career with the Browns in 2014 under coordinator Kyle Shanahan, was offensive coordinator of the Jets in 2021 and '22.

New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley talks to reporters following a practice, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass.
New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley talks to reporters following a practice, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass.

Caley interviewed for the Jets' coordinator opening before taking the Rams job.

The Rams will try to rebound from a 5-12 season. Previously under McVay, starting in 2017, the Rams were 62-29, including a loss in Super Bowl 53 to a Patriots team on which Caley was tight ends coach. The Rams beat the Bengals in Super Bowl 56 last February.

New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley, center, talks with tight ends Jacob Hollister (left) and Rob Gronkowski on the sideline during the first half against the Jaguars, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla.
New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley, center, talks with tight ends Jacob Hollister (left) and Rob Gronkowski on the sideline during the first half against the Jaguars, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla.

Caley coached in Super Bowls 51, 52 and 53 with the Patriots, all when former Canton McKinley quarterback Josh McDaniels was offensive coordinator. McDaniels left after the 2021 season to be head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Belichick interviewed Caley for the offensive coordinator position after the Patriots went 8-9 this past regular season. Former NFL head coaches Matt Patricia and Joe Judge operated with Belichick in a coordinator by committee role in 2022.

New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley talks to reporters, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at the team's stadium, in Foxborough, Mass.
New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley talks to reporters, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at the team's stadium, in Foxborough, Mass.

McVay and Caley might find amusement in Caley's high school alma mater, St. Thomas Aquinas. The Knights' arch-rival is Canton Central Catholic, where McVay's late grandfather, John, was head coach some years after playing center for the Massillon Tigers. John McVay was general manager of the 49ers when they won five Super Bowls.

Reach Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @sdoerschukREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Nick Caley joins Sean McVay's Los Angeles Rams coaching staff