70 MILLION ? 'Keep It.' Rams Legendary Coach Nate Scheelhaase Rejects Head Coaching Interviews from Ravens and Dolphins to Choose Seahawks— Explosive Internal Meeting Revelations Shaking the Entire NFL

Seattle, Washington – January 17, 2026

The entire NFL was left stunned as one of the most unbelievable decisions of the offseason quietly came to light. Nate Scheelhaase, one of the most highly respected strategic minds to emerge from the Los Angeles Rams system, turned down head coaching interview requests from both the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins — choosing instead a path far less flashy, but far more meaningful: the Seattle Seahawks.

According to multiple league sources, both the Ravens and Dolphins were prepared to move Scheelhaase into final interview stages, with long-term offers believed to be approaching $70 million in total value. For most candidates, that number would end the conversation immediately. For Scheelhaase, it never did.

“Keep it.”
That blunt phrase is believed to be what Scheelhaase shared privately — a cold, decisive summary of a choice that was never about money or title. This was about role, timing, and legacy.

What made Seattle’s appeal unique was the organizational transition already forming behind the scenes. Multiple sources indicate that offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is increasingly expected to move on after the season, as his name continues to surface in discussions for larger opportunities across the league. Seattle understands it does not simply need a short-term replacement — it needs a new architect for the offense moving forward.

The closed-door meeting in Seattle became the turning point of the entire process. There were no rushed promises, no immediate power grabs. Seahawks leadership spoke about structure, philosophy, and long-term direction — and Scheelhaase listened.

One individual who attended the meeting described the moment in dramatic terms:

“I have never seen the Seahawks approach a meeting this seriously in nearly two decades. No one talked about a single season. No one talked about money. They talked about what the Seahawks are going to become over the next 10 years. And when Nate stood up and walked out of that room, everyone understood — this was no longer an interview. It was a historic choice.”

That alignment proved decisive. The Seahawks did not promise immediate championships, but they promised trust, time, and the authority to build — three commodities that have become increasingly rare in today’s NFL.

Around league circles, the decision has been described as “going against the current.” One AFC executive, speaking anonymously, put it plainly:
“He turned down two easier jobs to choose the harder one. And it’s also the only place that’s truly preparing for the next era, not just patching the present.”

While Scheelhaase’s official role in Seattle has not yet been announced, internal expectations suggest his influence will extend far beyond that of a typical assistant — particularly as the Seahawks prepare for a post-Kubiak future and search for a new offensive power center.

In an NFL obsessed with money, speed, and bidding wars, Nate Scheelhaase made a different kind of statement. Not every future is bought with a number — some paths only open when an organization is willing to believe and wait.