Nick Caley enters his second season with the Los Angeles Rams as the pass game coordinator and tight ends coach after leading the tight end group last season.
He joined the Rams leading up to the 2023 season after coaching tigth ends for the New England Patriots for six seasons. He also coached fullbacks from 2017-21.
Under Caley's guidance during the 2023 season, veteran Tight End Tyler Higbee surpassed many franchise records and milestones. Higbee eclipsed Harold Jackson and moved to 14th in franchise history in receiving yards, passed Jack Snow and Elroy Hirsch and moved to ninth all-time in franchise history in receptions, and passed Preston Dennard in touchdown receptions and moved to 15th in franchise history. Among tight ends, Higbee finished the regular season ranked 20th in receiving yards, 10th in yards per reception, and tied for 16th in yards after the catch.
Caley also played an instrumental role in the development of rookie Davis Allen in 2023. Allen recorded a solid performance in a Week 14 matchup against the Ravens with a season-high 50 receiving yards and recorded his first career touchdown reception.
In Caley's first season as a tight ends coach in 2017, Patriots star Rob Gronkowski earned his fifth career Pro Bowl invitation and was named an AP First-Team All-Pro selection. Gronkowski led all tight ends in receiving yards (1,084) and yards per reception (15.7). That same season, Caley coached fullback James Develin, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
Caley also mentored players such as Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith during his time as the Patriots tight ends coach. Under Caley's guidance in 2021, Henry finished with the third-most receptions (50), receiving yards (603) and yards per reception (12.1) in his career. Henry also set a career-high in touchdown catches that season with nine.
In his first two seasons in the NFL coaching ranks with the Patriots in 2015 and 2016, Caley served as an offensive coaching assistant.
Prior to joining the Patriots coaching staff, Caley spent 10 years coaching in the college ranks mainly on the defensive side of the ball. He spent time at seven different schools with multiple stints as a secondary coach.
He joined the Florida Atlantic staff as the secondary coach in 2014 and helped his unit flourish with five secondary players finishing amongst the team's top eight tacklers.
Caley was a defensive graduate assistant at Arkansas in 2013 where he assisted with the linebackers and special teams unit.
At Eastern Illinois as a secondary coach in 2012, Caley helped the defense finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference in pass efficiency. He coached safety Nick Beard, who was named firstteam all-conference and helped Eastern Illinois finish the 2012 campaign as Ohio Valley Conference Champions.
As a defensive graduate assistant at Iowa State, Caley helped the defense finish eighth nationally in forced turnovers (32). He worked with Leonard Johnson, who was a Second-Team All-Big 12 selection and David Sims who was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Both players spent time in the NFL as undrafted free agents.
In 2008, Caley served at Auburn as a defensive administrative assistant. He worked closely with defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads and the Tiger secondary unit that finished 19th nationally in pass defense. The Auburn defense finished the season ranked 14th nationally in scoring defense and 29th in total defense. Caley worked with third round draft pick Jerraud Powers and fifth round selection Walt McFadden that season.
During his time as a defensive graduate assistant at Akron, Caley was part of a staff that captured the first Mid-American Conference Championship in school history and the school's first bowl game appearance in the Motor City Bowl. Caley worked with the secondary that featured Reggie Corner, who was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, as well as Brandon Anderson who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
Caley began his coaching career at his alma mater, John Carroll, as a student coach in 2005.
He earned his bachelor of arts in communications from John Carroll (2006) and a master of science, sports science and coaching from Akron (2008). He also received a master of education in educational leadership and policy studies from Iowa State (2011).
Caley was born on January 22, 1983 in Canton, Ohio which is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Grace, have two daughters, Caroline and Vivian.
