New England Patriots Reunite with Josh McDaniels as Offensive Coordinator
The New England Patriots have hired Josh McDaniels as their new offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. This will be McDaniels’ third stint with the team, having previously held the role from 2006 to 2008 and again from 2012 to 2019. McDaniels was out of the game in 2024 after being fired mid-season by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2023 campaign.
McDaniels was among the top candidates for the Patriots’ offensive coordinator position, which also included Thomas Brown, the passing game coordinator for the Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady. The hiring marks a reunion for McDaniels and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who have a connection from their time together as player and coach respectively, when they won three Super Bowls during the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era.
McDaniels’ big break into the NFL came with the Patriots in 2001 as an assistant under Belichick. He eventually worked his way up to the point where the Denver Broncos hired him in 2009 to become their next head coach. However, that was short-lived, as McDaniels was fired in December 2010.
The Patriots will hope McDaniels can lead the way for quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft who showed spurts of greatness in his first NFL season despite the team’s overall struggles. Maye threw for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns to 10 interceptions with two rushing touchdowns on 421 yards over 12 games.
As Vrabel continues to build out his coaching staff this offseason, bringing in a familiar face with an extensive track record is something that could go a long way for a Patriots team that continues to look for its next dynasty.