Report: Possible Josh McDaniels Reunion in New England

According to a report from The Athletic, there could be a third edition of Josh McDaniels with the New England Patriots. Jeff Howe reported McDaniels could be back to join the staff for a third time. His hiring would be contingent on the return of head coach Bill Belichick.

The Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Josh McDaniels on Nov. 1, 2023. It was McDaniels second stint as an NFL head coach. He previously coached the Denver Broncos from 2009-to-2010. McDaniels employment ended during the second season of both head coaching stints. Although McDaniels’ head coaching record is an unimpressive 20-33, he has had multiple successful stints as a Patriots assistant.

McDaniels served as New England’s offensive coordinator from 2006-to-2008, and again from 2012-to-2021. His 2007 Patriots offense set an NFL record for points in a season (589) while going 16-0. He was the OC on the New England Patriots three most recent Super Bowl championship teams in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

It is unclear what role Josh McDaniels would have in New England if he returns. Incumbent offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is reportedly under contract for 2024. It is possible for him to return in the same role, with McDaniels taking on an assistant head coach title.

The Boston Herald report last week showed dysfunction in the offensive hierarchy in the coaching staff. Bill Belichick had wanted to retain Matt Patricia, but ultimately replaced him with O’Brien. But O’Brien was allowed to hire only one of his offensive assistants. If Belichick does return, it will be worth motioning how the entire offensive coaching staff ultimately looks, whether or not that includes McDaniels.

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones enjoyed the best season of his NFL career in the year McDaniels was running the offense for New England. The return of his former offensive coordinator could revitalize Jones’ career in New England.

Despite the 2023 New England Patriots season coming to an end, it appears there will be plenty of team news for the foreseeable future. The possibility of Josh McDaniels coming back to Foxboro certainly gets the offseason rumor mill off to an interesting start.