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NFL insider: There’s ‘buzz’ Josh McDaniels could return as Patriots’ offensive coordinator
"Though McDaniels is a two-time failed head coach, no one disputes his coordinator chops.”
Former Patriots linebacker and ex-Titans coach Mike Vrabel is widely viewed as the frontrunner for New England’s head coaching vacancy.
If Robert Kraft makes the call to hire the three-time Super Bowl champion, could Vrabel bring back another familiar face in Foxborough as part of his coaching staff?
According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could be primed for a third stint in Foxborough, especially if Vrabel wants to pair a seasoned offensive coach with a young QB like Drake Maye.
“One note on Vrabel: There is buzz in some coaching circles that Josh McDaniels could be a prime candidate to be Vrabel’s offensive coordinator,” Fowler wrote Thursday. “That would be quite the nostalgia tandem, and though McDaniels is a two-time failed head coach, no one disputes his coordinator chops.”
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While Vrabel’s ties to New England and reputation as an intense and experienced head coach likely hold plenty of appeal to Kraft and Co., the former linebacker is also regarded as more of a defensive-minded coach.
Adding an OC and play-caller with McDaniels’ credentials would stand as a step in the right direction for New England, especially when it comes to fostering more growth in Maye’s game.
McDaniels achieved plenty of success in Foxborough over two separate tenures with the franchise. He joined the team as an assistant in 2001 before eventually becoming the team’s offensive coordinator from 2005 to 2008.
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After a disastrous stint as head coach of the Denver Broncos, McDaniels returned to the Patriots as offensive coordinator again in 2012 and remained in the same role until the end of the 2021 season.
McDaniels won six Super Bowl titles with New England, building a strong rapport with Tom Brady before later helping Mac Jones make the Pro Bowl as a rookie on 2021.
The longtime Patriots OC has yet to land another job in the NFL after lasting less than two years as head coach of the Raiders — he went 9-16 before being fired in October 2023.
Even if McDaniels’ track record as a head coach is poor, the 48-year-old coach could be a valuable asset if given the keys to New England’s offense and Maye’s development.
Vrabel and McDaniels overlapped for eight seasons when the former was a key cog on New England’s defense, although Vrabel could also bring in other offensive coaches he’s worked with — including Browns pass game specialist and tight ends coach Tommy Rees.
Speaking just a few hours after Mayo was fired by New England, Rob Gronkowski brought up the potential pairing of Vrabel and McDaniels in Foxborough.
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“Obviously Mr. Kraft has a plan as well going forward,” Gronkowski said. “Probably hoping to get Mike Vrabel. There’s some rumbling out there that Josh McDaniels may come back as well as offensive coordinator.”
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