After receiving offensive coordinator interest from a number of teams during this year’s coaching cycle, Nick Caley is set for a lateral move. The former Patriots tight ends coach is being hired by the Rams to occupy the same role, reports Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated (on Twitter). 
Caley, 40, interviewed in New England for their OC position, one which ultimately went to Bill O’Brien. He was on the coordinator radar outside of Foxborough as well, though. Caley met with the Jets prior to their decision to hire Nathaniel Hackett as their Mike LaFleur replacement; now, he will work alongside the latter. Caley also interviewed with the Texans for their OC vacancy.
Breer notes that the longtime Patriots assistant had other offers as well, but he chose to work under Sean McVay in the same capacity as he had under Bill Belichick. Caley had been with New England for the past eight years, and his departure marks more change for an offensive staff which struggled mightily in the 2022 campaign with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge taking on unfamiliar roles relative to their previous coaching backgrounds.
One of O’Brien’s first moves as OC has been reuniting with Will Lawing, who worked alongside him on a number of occasions. His experience includes time spent as a TEs coach, so he would represent a logical replacement for Caley. One of his top responsibilities in 2023, regardless of his title, will be attempting to increase the production of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, who combined for just 754 receiving yards this year – production well short of expectations for the pair, given their big-ticket deals signed in 2021.
In Los Angeles, Caley will join a staff which has also seen a number of changes this offseason, including OC Liam Coen departing for Kentucky. That led to LaFleur’s hiring, giving Caley a new set of staffers to work under as he looks to continue advancing his career. The Rams fell well short of expectations on offense in particular thanks in large part to the unit being decimated by injuries, but new faces on the sidelines could help the team rebound in 2023.