Former Patriots assistant reportedly ‘well-positioned’ to be team’s offensive coordinator
Former Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley is reportedly interviewing with the team again on Monday.
Nick Caley is reportedly set to interview for the Patriots offensive coordinator gig for the second time, which could serve as a precursor to him getting the job.
The former Patriots tight ends coach and current Rams tight ends coach is “well-positioned” to land the offensive coordinator job by those close to the process, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported Sunday.
Caley, 41, was among the first candidates to interview for the vacancy, reportedly speaking with the Patriots on Monday. He, along with Rams assistant special teams coach Jeremy Springer, are flying to New England to have dinner with the Patriots on Sunday before having second interviews with the team on Monday, according to the Monday Morning Quarterback’s Albert Breer. Springer is a candidate for the Patriots’ special teams coordinator job.
If the Patriots ultimately decide to make Caley their next offensive coordinator, it would mark a quick return to New England for him. He worked on the Patriots’ coaching staff from 2015-22, mostly serving as their tight ends coach for the final six seasons of his eight years with the team.
When Josh McDaniels left the Patriots in the 2022 offseason, many speculated that Caley would be the top in-house candidate to replace him at offensive coordinator. However, Bill Belichick opted to take an unorthodox approach at replacing the longtime offensive coordinator, making Matt Patricia their offensive play-caller and Joe Judge their quarterbacks coach.
Caley remained in New England for the 2022 season, serving out the final year of his contract before becoming the Rams’ tight ends coach. Prior to taking the Rams job, Caley interviewed with the Jets, Texans, and Patriots for their offensive coordinator vacancies last offseason.
Former Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia explained to The Athletic‘s Jeff Howe in 2022 why a coach like Caley could become a solid offensive coordinator option.
“When you coach the tight ends, you’re coaching a position that transcends the entire offense,” Scarnecchia said at the time. “He’s involved in the passing game, so Nick has been in every passing-game meeting. And the run game, so he’s been in every run-game meeting. Nick has been in a lot of meetings, as has Joe Judge. They’ve got to get somebody who can mentor the quarterback. Somebody has to oversee the offense.”
In his lone season in Los Angeles, Caley helped oversee Rams tight end Tyler Higbee put up a solid season as a receiver (47 receptions for 495 yards and two touchdowns). He also coached a pair of younger tight ends in Hunter Long and Davis Allen with Sean McVay crediting Caley for helping the two players evolve as run blockers.
The Patriots have already lost a few of their candidates for the offensive coordinator job to other teams. The Bears hired Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron for the same role earlier in the week. The Bengals promoted quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher to become their next offensive coordinator as well. Late Saturday, Rams quarterbacks coach accepted an offer to become the Falcons’ offensive coordinator, following fellow Rams assistant Raheem Morris to Atlanta.
The Patriots have reportedly also conducted interviews or plan to interview former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury, Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, former Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, and Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson.
New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo appeared to make his first coordinator hire on Saturday, with reporters emerging that DeMarcus Covington will be the defensive coordinator.
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