New England Patriots: Josh McDaniels withdraws from Colts head coaching position
By Brian Hines
New England Patriots offensive coordinator has decided to remain with the franchise, backing out of the Indianapolis Colts head coaching job.
The New England Patriots search for a new offensive coordinator looked like it was set to begin this morning. Josh McDaniels was officially announced as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts Tuesday morning. However, things have changed.
McDaniels has now officially withdrawn from the position.
The report was first announced by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, stating McDaniels will stay in New England following this season.
Schefter also added that McDaniels and Robert Kraft held talks over the last 48 hours, which ended in Kraft “sweetening his contract.”
The aggressive late push by Patriot management swayed McDaniels to stay and could have prevented him from even searching for head coaching jobs if it happened earlier.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss added that “clarity on Bill Belichick’s status in New England” and “stability” for his family were also primary reasons for McDaniels’ sudden and unexpected move.
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The incentive by Kraft, other than keeping a highly regarded coordinator, could have been to get some revenge on Indianapolis over DeflateGate.
"“That’s Kraft putting it to the Colts again. He will forever try and (expletive) that place ever since deflate gate,” a league source told Adam Schefter."
Perhaps uncertainty on Colts quarterback Andrew Luck also contributed to the change of heart from McDaniels. Luck missed all of 2017 with a right shoulder injury, and his status is still extremely unclear. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Luck still might need another surgery to his injured throwing shoulder.
With McDaniels returning as offensive coordinator, speculation has risen that Bill Belichick’s career is coming to an end. According to Schefter though, that isn’t the case.
"“McDaniels’ decision to stay could spark speculation that perhaps Belichick’s tenure is about to end, but those close to McDaniels say that isn’t the case — and if it was, he would have been more inclined to leave, a source told ESPN’s Mike Reiss,” Schefter wrote."
McDaniels now certainly seems to be the next head coach in waiting, no matter when Belichick leaves. Already being one of the highest paid coordinators in the NFL, the spurn on the Colts makes it clear he has hopes of being the Patriots head coach at some point in his life.
With McDaniels coming back, the Patriots will again have familiarity with the offensive coordinator position. 2018 will mark McDaniels’ tenth season holding that position, and he has a valuable relationship with management, coaches and players.
As for other Patriot coordinators, Matt Patricia was officially announced as the Detroit Lions head coach. The vacant defensive coordinator position is expected to be filled by linebackers coach Brian Flores or Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.
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Special teams coordinator Joe Judge was expected to join McDaniels in Indianapolis but will now stay in New England.