Just a few hours after current offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien was hired as the new head coach of Penn State, the New England Patriots have already begun their search to replace him. For starters, they are going to talk with the man O'Brien replaced as the head of the offense in 2009, Josh McDaniels.
According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network, the Patriots have received permission from the St. Louis Rams to talk with current offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was hired by the Rams to help mentor quarterback Sam Bradford and run the team's offense. This was an almost identical job he previously had with the Patriots from 2005-2009.
In 2001, McDaniels was hired as an offensive assistant under head coach Bill Belichick and then offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Once Weis left the Patriots following the 2004 season to coach Notre Dame, McDaniels assumed the play calling duties for the offense became the team's quarterback coach.
In 2007, McDaniels put his name on the radar when he helped orchestrate an offense that scored 75 touchdowns and 589 on the road to a perfect 16-0 regular season. Following the 2008 season, McDaniels was hired as Mike Shanahan's replacement as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. McDaniels was later fired during the 2010 season and had a combined record of 11-18 record.
If McDaniels were to be hired by the Patriots, the team certainly wouldn't have to adjust to much. Because McDaniels already has a great relationship with quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, he seems like the best option to replace Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator next season.
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