Patriots: Josh McDaniels’ Colts decision comes back to haunt him in Eagles HC search

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 17: New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels looks on during training camp at Gillette Stadium on August 17, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steven Senne-Pool/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 17: New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels looks on during training camp at Gillette Stadium on August 17, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steven Senne-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Patriots OC Josh McDaniels’ decision to spurn the Colts back in 2018 continues to haunt him.

It’s been pretty difficult keeping track of Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels this offseason in regards to his coaching interest (or lack thereof). After his offense ranked near the bottom of the league in seemingly every major statistical category, there was zero buzz of him becoming a head coaching candidate.

However, that all changed when the Eagles surprisingly fired Doug Pederson thanks to all of the controversy and turmoil Philly endured in 2020.

Fast forward a couple days and McDaniels emerged as one of the lead candidates for the coaching vacancy after reportedly interviewing with the Eagles’ braintrust for close to 12 hours (!) this past weekend. That hinted it was only a matter of time until they would hire him, but it appears his decision to spurn the Colts back in 2018 loomed large in the hiring process.

In a sweet dosage of poetic justice, the Eagles are reportedly hiring Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as their new head coach.

Isn’t it funny how things work out sometimes? McDaniels weaseling his way out of the agreement he made with Indianapolis to become their new head coach three years ago is still one of the most bizarre NFL storylines in recent memory.

Think about it like this: McDaniels had the chance to take the reins of a budding young roster while working with one of the best GM’s in the league in Chris Ballard, who is a master when it comes to evaluating talent and seemingly hits on all of his draft picks, and STILL left them at the altar.

The crazy part is you can argue that the Colts proved to benefit from McDaniels’ decision. After all, they definitely ended up with Frank Reich, who they hired away from the Eagles! He ironically helped Sirianni establish himself as one of the brightest young offensive minds in the sport.

Now, it’s come full circle. McDaniels bails on Indy. Indy hires Reich. Eagles endure turmoil without the man who helped shaped their offense and develop Carson Wentz. Reich grooms Sirianni. Sirianni steals the Eagles head coaching job years later from McDaniels.

We obviously have nothing but respect for McDaniels for what he’s accomplished in New England, but fans would be hard-pressed to deny that it’s his own fault he hasn’t realized his dream of becoming a head coach again since he chose to leave Indy high and dry back in 2018.