With Dana Holgorsen fired after a four-game losing streak and the Huskers’ offense sputtering, Matt Rhule is searching for his third offensive coordinator since arriving in Lincoln. While names like Wake Forest’s Rob Ezell and others with proven college play-calling success dominate the early conversation, one under-the-radar name has unique local ties, NFL pedigree, and a direct connection to Rhule: Seattle Seahawks pass-game coordinator Jake Peetz.
Peetz, a native of O’Neill, Nebraska, walked on at the University of Nebraska from 2003-2005, playing defensive back and long snapper while earning an exercise science degree. He was twice named to the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team. His coaching path has been unconventional but steadily upward: early stops at Santa Barbara City College and UCLA, scouting and coaching with the Jacksonville Jaguars, two stints as an offensive analyst under Nick Saban at Alabama, roles with the Raiders and Washington, and a season as quarterbacks coach under Rhule with the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
In 2021, Peetz served as LSU’s offensive coordinator. The season was turbulent, LSU dealt with quarterback instability, injuries, and eventual public criticism from Ed Orgeron, but Peetz brought modern spread concepts influenced by the Joe Brady system. He later joined Sean McVay’s staff with the Rams before moving to Seattle in 2024 as pass game coordinator. There, he contributed to an offense that featured Sam Darnold and a breakout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the NFL in receiving yards in 2025 as the Seahawks went 14-3 and won Super Bowl LX.
Peetz has already been in the NFL coordinator conversation, interviewing for the Detroit Lions’ OC job earlier this year. He was also linked to Nebraska once before: in late 2022, he was expected to join Rhule’s initial staff in Lincoln but ultimately stayed with the Rams.
Rhule has outlined what he wants in the next offense: physicality, the ability to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage, discipline and attention to detail, and explosiveness that produces points. Peetz’s background aligns in several ways. His time under Saban and McVay exposed him to high-level schemes and player development. As a pass game specialist and coordinator, he has worked with productive quarterbacks and receivers while operating in offenses that balanced the run. His Nebraska roots and prior working relationship with Rhule could accelerate trust and cultural fit in a program that values continuity and buy-in. Bringing in Peetz would also work for Rhule because Peetz wouldn’t have a staff to bring with himself. When asked earlier this week if Rhule would make the new OC keep any current staff members, Rhule basically said he’d cross that road another time. When Rhule hired Rob Aurich, he made him keep a few staff members from the previous staff, most notably Addison Williams. My guess is Rhule will make whoever gets the job keep at least some of the offensive staff. I just pray Satterfield is gone.
Peetz remains a dark horse for practical reasons. He is established on a Super Bowl-winning NFL staff and has not been publicly linked to the current Nebraska search. Most hot boards focus on active Power Four or Group of Five college coordinators with recent play-calling success. Peetz’s only full season as a college OC produced mixed results amid LSU’s broader issues. Leaving the NFL for a college job, especially one under a head coach whose seat is not entirely secure, would be a significant career decision. Still, the ingredients are there: hometown credibility from O’Neill, a walk-on story at Nebraska, scheme experience from elite environments, and a proven ability to develop pass concepts while contributing to winning football. For a program seeking both explosiveness and physicality, Peetz offers a blend of modern NFL concepts and local roots that few other candidates can match.
Whether Rhule and his staff explore the idea remains to be seen. Peetz is not the safest or most conventional choice on the board, but the O’Neill native’s résumé makes him one of the more intriguing long shots worth monitoring.
