6 hours Ago By Conor Ryan
By Conor Ryan Josh McDaniels is back in Foxborough for a third stint. The former New England coordinator under Bill Belichick has reportedly been hired by New England again to serve as the offensive coordinator on Mike Vrabel’s staff, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “The favorite all along, he interviewed today and solidified his standing,” Rapoport added.
“Now, he’ll join Mike Vrabel’s staff and work with Drake Maye.” McDaniels will replace Alex Van Pelt as New England’s OC, with Van Pelt’s future position with the team uncertain after a 2024 campaign where Maye showcased plenty of development, but the overall offensive output (291.9 points per game, 31st in NFL) left a lot to be desired.
McDaniels is no stranger to the Patriots. The 48-year-old coach won six Super Bowls in New England while serving in various roles on Belichick’s staff across two previous stints. He joined the team as an assistant in 2001 before eventually taking over as the team’s offensive coordinator from 2005 to 2008.
McDaniels returned to New England to be the offensive coordinator again in 2012 and had been in the same role until taking over as the Raiders’ head coach at the end of the 2021 campaign. Sandwiched between his stints in New England were two disastrous head-coaching ventures with the Denver Broncos (2009-10) and Las Vegas Raiders (2022-23). Even though McDaniels’ tenure as an NFL head coach left a lot to be desired, he has cultivated the reputation as a gifted and prepared OC who can get the most out of the personnel around him, especially at the QB position.
While McDaniels built a strong partnership working with Tom Brady over the years in New England, he also turned Mac Jones into a Pro Bowl QB during his rookie campaign in 2021. During that season, New England’s offense ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring and eighth in yards per passing attempt , two metrics that cratered for both the Patriots and Jones once McDaniels left for Las Vegas. McDaniels should have much more to work with in a young QB like Maye, who was one of the few bright spots on New England’s 2024 roster.
“I truly believe he would be the right one for Drake Maye,” former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski s aid of McDaniels’ fit in New England last week . “I mean, he dealt with Tom Brady throughout his whole entire career. .
.. He helped out Tom Brady tremendously.
Josh McDaniels has a full grasp of the offense. He knows how to demand respect as an offensive coordinator. He gets the players to listen to him.
” “Josh McDaniels is the guy. He knows how to develop quarterbacks,” Gronkowski added. “And not just quarterbacks, he knows how to develop players just like myself.
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At the quarterback position that’s where he’s a masterpiece. And I believe he would take Drake Maye to a whole other level.” Vrabel had some history with McDaniels, as the two overlapped for eight seasons when McDaniels was on Belichick’s staff and Vrabel was a key cog on New England’s defense.
McDaniels was one of four reported candidates who already interviewed for New England’s OC position . He beat out Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/assistant QBs coach Grant Udinski, Chargers pass game coordinator Marcus Brady, and former Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown. Conor Ryan Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.
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