January 22 – Josh McDaniels is heading back to New England for his third tour as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, several reports said Tuesday.

McDaniels, 48, will take over an offense quarterbacked by rising sophomore Drake Maye on new coach Mike Vrabel’s first staff in Foxborough, Mass.

McDaniels spent 2001-08 and 2012-21 on the Patriots’ staff in a variety of roles, first rising to the offensive coordinator post in 2006.

He was a part of all six Super Bowl titles of the Bill Belichick era.

He is also known for a pair of failed stints as a head coach. He was fired by the Denver Broncos 12 games into his second season with the team in 2010 and had history repeat itself eight games into his second season leading the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.

McDaniels did not coach anywhere in 2024, with Sports Illustrated reporting that he spent the year “evolving” his offense after spending time around various NFL and college teams.

In his most recent season as New England’s offensive coordinator, 2021, the Patriots ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring and 15th in yards per game. T

hat was Mac Jones’ rookie year, when he was named a Pro Bowler; he regressed in the following years without McDaniels and was eventually traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Maye, 22, threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 appearances (12 starts) as a rookie after being selected No. 3 overall in the 2024 draft.

The Patriots went 4-13 and fired Jerod Mayo after one season as their coach following Belichick.
–Field Level Media