December 6, 2023

Patriots

“I really feel like Billy O’Brien could also be out of there after this yr.”

Josh McDaniels has discovered loads of success with Invoice Belichick in New England. Matthew J Lee / The Boston Globe

Josh McDaniels is formally a free agent.

The longtime Patriots offensive coordinator was fired from his most up-to-date publish as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders early Wednesday morning — ending an unceremonious run that didn’t even final two seasons.

After two disastrous stints as a head coach in each Denver (2009-10) and now Las Vegas, McDaniels’ job prospects will probably middle across the offensive aspect of the ball — be it in a workers position or as a coordinator.

Given McDaniels’ familiarity with Invoice Belichick and the Patriots, might he make one more return to Foxborough within the months forward?

Though McDaniels’ newest reunion as New England’s major offensive maestro is seemingly blocked by the presence of present OC Invoice O’Brien, former Patriots star Rob Gronkowski might see a state of affairs enjoying out the place O’Brien is teaching elsewhere in 2024 — paving the way in which for McDaniels’ return.

“I really feel like Billy O’Brien could also be out of there after this yr,” Gronkowski mentioned throughout his newest look on the “Up & Adams” present on YouTube. “So if that’s the case, I believe Josh McDaniels comes again as offensive coordinator in New England, that’s for certain.” 

“He’s type of a head-coach man,” Gronkowski added when requested of O’Brien’s job prospects. I really feel like he’s going to take a possibility elsewhere. I’ve zero sources, that is simply me developing with it. As a result of I used to be nonetheless very shocked that he went to New England. So I might see him doing a one or two-year deal after which being proper out of there and McDaniels coming in as soon as once more.”

McDaniels’ struggles as a head coach have been well-documented, with the Broncos and Raiders posting a mixed file of 20-33 with him on the helm.

Given the extent of success that McDaniels achieved in New England with each Brady and later Mac Jones (who earned a Professional Bowl nod as a rookie in 2021), Gronkowski believed that the burden of being a head coach sapped away a few of McDaniels’ best strengths on the sideline.

“When he was the offensive coordinator, you can inform he got here again and able to go at all times fired up, at all times glad, at all times able to go,” Gronkowski mentioned. “And simply taking a look at his face now and seeing him as a head coach, he appears very careworn since he’s been to the Raiders.”

Gronkowski shouldn’t be the one former Patriot who believes that New England would possibly need to kick the tires on a reunion with McDaniels.

Throughout his weekly look on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Present”, three-time Tremendous Bowl champion Devin McCourty famous that New England will inevitably give McDaniels a name as soon as the previous coach begins testing the waters for extra job alternatives. 

“I might not be shocked if Josh was again on workers,” McCourty mentioned. “But additionally, if I’m Josh, like, ‘Hey, man, [you’ve] nonetheless obtained 4 and a half years [on his Raiders contract] absolutely assured. Like for this yr, let’s take a little bit psychological break for the remainder of the season. See what you are able to do, go round to different groups, deal with turning into a greater coach.’

“I might function extra alongside these traces. However I believe for New England, like Josh had a lot success over there. I might be shocked in the event that they don’t at the very least name him and say ‘Hey, do you need to come again and lend a serving to hand of some kind.’”