Come January, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is bound to become a popular man.
Since returning to the team as an offensive assistant during the 2011 playoffs, the Patriots have never had less than a 12 win season. McDaniels’ offense at year-end has never ranked less than fourth since his return to the helm as offensive coordinator, Tom Brady has thrown 128 touchdown passes against only 35 interceptions, Rob Gronkowski has become the NFL’s premiere tight end, Julian Edelman has become a household name and the Patriots have won their division each season since his return and been to the Super Bowl twice, winning once.
In a lot of ways, it is surprising that Josh McDaniels’ name has not yet been a hot commodity for all that he has done since his last shot at being a NFL head coach, but this season may yet be his best as a coordinator.
Just look at what McDaniels has had to overcome over the first three games of this season. His star quarterback suspended, his number one offensive weapon injured, his backup quarterback gets hurt just as it seemed he was about to become a star, and the backup to the backup had never taken an NFL snap and had not had first team reps throughout the preseason. The result for McDaniels offense so far? Three straight wins, two of which were against playoff teams from a year ago, an offense ranked in the top 15 (a huge win) averaging 27 points and 369 yards a game. When most experts predicted that the Patriots should be thrilled at being 2-2, for the team to head into Sunday’s matchup in Foxborough with Buffalo undefeated, is nothing short of astonishing.
And McDaniels’ success is getting noticed by the rest of the league.
Yesterday, McDaniels had to discuss rumors that he is likely to be a hot head coaching commodity after the conclusion of this year. Appearing on WEEI in Boston and in an article that appeared on NFL.com, McDaniels said, “I love where I’m at; I’ve said before that I think we all have aspirations to grow and get better and improve and potentially move up and what have you, and who knows. Maybe that day happens, maybe it doesn’t, but I know this: I’m really thankful that I have the opportunity that I have to coach the players that we have here and to work underneath Bill and Robert and the Kraft family. It’s a privilege here.”
Josh McDaniels should receive a second chance to be an NFL head coach. He has earned that right. Far less talented men have received those opportunities since his (by all accounts) disastrous first run with the Broncos. As a coordinator, few are better. As a motivator, it is clear that his players (especially his quarterbacks) love him. As an educator, few can argue that he creates schemes so complex and installs those schemes in his offense so brilliantly.
So let’s be real: Josh McDaniels will be an NFL head coach again and he will receive that opportunity this year…but he should not take it.
By all accounts, and by his own words, Josh McDaniels knows that he has a good thing in New England…a very good thing. How many coordinators get to coach with and learn from a future Hall of Fame head coach, let alone perhaps the greatest head coach in NFL history in Bill Belichick? To get to leave that coach, come back to him, and win a Super Bowl with him while being set up to maybe do that again this year? Unheard of. But, that is exactly McDaniels’ story and that is the situation he finds himself in now.
McDaniels is said to want the time to properly interview for a head coaching job. That won’t happen during the Patriots inevitable playoff run this year. McDaniels is believed to want a strong owner, a strong organization, a strong general manager, and a quarterback. Can you imagine him finding those qualities anywhere, in any team that will likely have a head coaching vacancy this year? The only one that I can remotely think about would be the LA Rams and McDaniels has been there and done that before.
And then there is the history of what happens to Bill Belichick coordinators who leave the grand puba of cut off hoodies and search for greener pastures. The most successful former assistant of Belichick, Nick Saban, had to go to college to pull off his legacy. The rest, Josh McDaniels included, have all failed as head coaches in the NFL or are on shaky ground (looking at you Bill O’Brien).
Josh McDaniels has been in those shoes. He left the comfort of the Patriots nearly eight years ago and saw what life was like outside of Boston and it wasn’t pretty. McDaniels surely knows this and he also surely knows one important thing: Bill Belichick will not coach the New England Patriots forever. In fact, his time could be coming to an end. It is plausible that when Tom Brady rides off into the sunset, so too will Belichick. Who will then be left to take over the greatest organization in pro football and continue the Belichick dynasty?
Logic says only two men would be the natural successors: Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels. It would be asinine for McDaniels to even consider leaving at this point. He will get the offers but none will be as good as the one that he might yet get a few seasons from now.
Get ready NFL, Josh McDaniels just might be the future of the Patriots organization…until then he has another playoff run to get ready for.
