Mike Vrabel is handing over the keys to the Patriots offense to a familiar face.
Josh McDaniels Joins Vrabel’s Coaching Staff as New England Offensive Coordinator, Multiple Sources Say. A six-time Super Bowl champion as an assistant coach, McDaniels is best known as Bill Belichick’s longtime offensive player.
This is Vrabel’s first big hire as Patriots head coach. The team also interviewed Thomas Brown, Marcus Brady and Grant Udinski for their offensive coordinator position, according to sources. McDaniels interviewed with the Patriots on Tuesday and it resulted in the veteran playcaller agreeing to join Vrabel’s team, according to sources.
News of McDaniels’ hiring could be announced as early as this week. Vrabel has already retained the services of special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer. His next hire will be a defensive coordinator.
This is McDaniels’ third time joining the Patriots. He was Tom Brady’s quarterback coach for record-breaking seasons and guided Mac Jones to a Pro Bowl berth as a rookie. Now he’ll be tasked with taking Drake Maye’s game to the next level.
McDaniels, 48, worked in New England from 2001 to 2008 and then from 2012 to 2021. He was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator for 13 seasons, where he won three of his six Super Bowl rings. While coaching Brady, McDaniels’ offense finished in the top 10 in all 11 seasons in New England.
This success landed McDaniels two head coaching jobs – Denver (2009-2010) and Las Vegas (2022-2023). However, neither went well, as McDaniels didn’t last two full seasons at either stop. After being fired by the Raiders, McDaniels did not coach last year.
It will be fascinating to see how McDaniels shapes Maye’s offense. As coordinator, his projects have been manifold and Vrabel will certainly contribute as well.
When Brady left the Patriots in 2020, McDaniels changed the offense under quarterback Cam Newton. This group finished 27th in the NFL in scoring, but fourth in the league in rushing. McDaniels gained more notoriety for his work during Jones’ rookie season a year later. In 2021, the Patriots offense finished sixth in the NFL in scoring, while Jones earned alternate Pro Bowl honors and was voted to the NFL Network Top 100 Players list.
A three-time Super Bowl winner in McDaniels’ offense, Rob Gronkowski was excited about the impact the veteran signal-caller could have on Maye as he enters his second season.
“I truly believe he would be the right fit for Drake Maye,” Gronkowski said during his appearance on “Up & Adams.” “He dealt with Tom Brady throughout his career… He helped Tom Brady tremendously. Josh McDaniels has a perfect command of the offense. He knows how to demand respect as an offensive coordinator. He makes sure that the players listen to him. He develops wonderful plans to open up his players.
“Josh McDaniels is the guy. He knows how to develop quarterbacks,” he added. “And not just quarterbacks, he knows how to develop players like me…at quarterback, that’s where he’s a masterpiece. And I believe he would bring Drake Maye on a whole new level.
McDaniels obviously overlapped with Vrabel during the linebacker’s playing days in New England and also spent time on his side of the ball. Before moving to offense, McDaniels was a defensive assistant at Foxborough from 2002-03.
Barstool Sports was first to report the news of McDaniels’ hiring.
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