The changes to the Patriots offensive coaching staff this offseason continue, as New England has lost a developing young assistant coach to the Rams.
According to Sports Illustrated, Nick Caley has taken a lateral step in his career by becoming the tight ends coach on Sean McVay’s staff in Los Angeles.
Caley spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach for Bill Belichick, the last six as the tight ends coach in New England. With his contract reportedly expiring this winter, Caley interviewed for the open offensive coordinator job in Foxborough that eventually went to Bill O’Brien. Caley also had interviews for the offensive coordinator position with the Jets and Texans this offseason.
This is the second straight offseason that Caley was passed over for the top offensive assistant job under Belichick, including last season’s dysfunctional setup in New England that saw longtime defensive coach Matt Patricia call plays for the Mac Jones-led offense.
Caley has been open in recent years about his desire to advance his coaching career and apparently sees a lateral move to coach tight ends with the Rams while adding his name to the much-hyped McVay coaching tree as a way to pursue his long term goals. Though his career apparently hit a ceiling in New England, Caley does have his share of vocal supporters including former legendary Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and current tight end Hunter Henry.
With Caley no longer in the mix, New England will need to fill a void at tight ends coach among other roles that have yet to be clarified on O’Brien’s offensive staff. The Patriots have reportedly added Will Lawing to the staff this winter, an assistant who spent the last two seasons with O’Brien at Alabama and prior to that was on his staff as the tight ends coach with the Texans.