Could Patriots be in danger of losing Josh McDaniels to Jaguars?
By Mike Luciano
The 2021 season has illustrated how a situation surrounding a rookie quarterback can be very delivate. While Mac Jones and the New England Patriots are poised for a deep playoff run thanks to Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels, Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars are mired at 2-11 thanks to Urban Meyer and his mismanagement.
Meyer was finally shown the door after 13 games in a move that still felt like it took too long. Between his laughable performances on game day, puzzling roster decisions, prickly demeanor towards players and coaches, and physical harassment of kicker Josh Lambo, Meyer had to go.
The Jaguars are already searching to find a replacement, though they likely won’t make a splashy hire like Meyer this time around. They’ll look for someone with an innovative offensive mind with years of quality experience in the NFL to help Lawrence
McDaniels might be on the list considering how he fits those desired characteristics. Albert Breer even reported back in October that McDaniels could be a name to watch. Could McDaniels, who fizzled out as a head coach in Denver over a decade ago, get a second chance at becoming a head coach in Jacksonville?
"If Urban Meyer doesn't make it to 2022 [in Jacksonville], I think that would be one team to watch with Josh McDaniels"@AlbertBreer on how Mac's impressive start is a huge help for McDaniels in the coaching market pic.twitter.com/A0oimKf6Tp
— NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) October 10, 2021
Will Josh McDaniels leave the New England Patriots and join the Jaguars?
McDaniels could be viewed as someone who developed Jones, but Lawrence and Jones have two totally different skill sets and would function better in two different systems. On top of that, the Jaguars are enduring a total rebuild, and it may take three years of coaching before they’re ready to compete for the postseason.
Failing there would ruin any chance for McDaniels to get back into the head coaching field ever again. With Belichick potentially retiring soon due to his age, McDaniels makes sense as a replacement. All he has to do is stay where he is and continue to help Jones improve.
The longer the rest of the NFL continues to overlook Josh McDaniels, the better off the Patriots are.
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) December 16, 2021
He's been masterful in running this offense and building situations for Mac Jones to succeed. It would be brutal for New England to lose him.
McDaniels was also linked to the potential Bears vacancy, but many of the same negatives with that job also apply here. He could go to a dysfunctional environment with another young quarterback and a fed-up fanbase, or he could keep working with Jones and potentially take the New England job when Belichick bolts.
The Patriots offensive coordinator proved via his flirtation with the Colts that he’s not going to leave the Patriots unless the perfect opportunity arises. A franchise with double-digit losing seasons in all but one year since 2010 will not give him that. New England, on the other hand, might in a few years.
