Reports: Boston College set to hire Bill O’Brien as head coach

Boston College is finalizing a deal with Bill O'Brien to make him the next head coach of the Eagles, multiple outlets reported Monday.

The sides are hammering out the final details, according to reports from Sports Illustrated and the Boston Herald. An announcement is expected by Wednesday, per the reports.

O'Brien, 54, a Boston native, would replace Jeff Hafley, who left BC to become the new defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers last week.

O'Brien was offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots last season but was out of a job when Bill Belichick stepped down. O'Brien was hired by Ohio State as OC and quarterbacks coach on Jan. 18.

It would mark O'Brien's third foray as a head coach. He replaced the legendary Joe Paterno at Penn State, going 15-9 in two seasons before taking the head coaching post with the Houston Texans. He went 52-48 in six-plus seasons before getting fired after an 0-4 start in 2020.

He went on to be the OC at Alabama under Nick Saban, where the Crimson Tide averaged 39.9 and 41.1 points per game in his two seasons.

Hafley was 22-26 in four seasons at Boston College, going 7-6 in 2023, including a win over No. 22 SMU in the Fenway Bowl.