What happened to Josh McDaniels’ chance of coaching the Raiders?
By Mike Luciano
The New England Patriots are lucky to have one of the most reliable offensive coordinators in the league in Josh McDaniels, and their luck has been multiplied in past seasons when McDaniels has repeatedly rebuked leaving New England to be a head coach elsewhere.
McDaniels, who was fired in Denver after struggling with the Tim Tebow-led Broncos, famously turned down the Indianapolis Colts despite being announced as their next head coach. McDaniels returned to the Pats and helped win another Super Bowl for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
This season, the Las Vegas Raiders appear to be the team eyeing McDaniels more than any other, as they had the idea of pairing McDaniels with Pats executive Dave Ziegler to replace both Rich Bisaccia as the coach and Mike Mayock as the GM.
McDaniels and Ziegler appear to be falling further back in the pack over the last 24 hours even though the Pats OC had been making calls with the aim of formulating a staff. Did McDaniels just decide to remain in New England until Bill Belichick vacates his post?
"McDaniels apparently had been calling coaches around the league about putting together a staff, but it appears something happened in the last 24 hours. ... it seems Ziegler and McDaniels are not the leaders in the clubhouse anymore." https://t.co/eHaPHfP7Wu
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) January 26, 2022
Will Josh McDaniels stay with the Patriots?
Well, he just got granted permission to interview with Las Vegas, so we’ll see what happens, but are the Patriots still doing all they can to prevent this from happening?
Raiders requested today a head coach interview with Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, per league source. McDaniels now expected to interview with the Raiders.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 27, 2022
Wait, what?! Now it’s expected he’s going to leave for Las Vegas?!
Sources close to Josh McDaniels feel very strongly about his chances to land with the Raiders. This connection has been building since last week. Still needs to go through the interview process and align with the right GM, but there's momentum.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 27, 2022
Anyway…
Considering how McDaniels turned Mac Jones into a respectable starter as a rookie, it’s easy to see why Las Vegas is all over him. With Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in that division and Denver kicking around the idea of trading for Aaron Rodgers, they need someone with offensive acumen.
Belichick is getting up there in age, and no one has been a closer confidant of his over the last decade than McDaniels. Why look for some 35-year-old son of a former coach? Just hire the guy who has been being groomed as a potential successor for years. If you’re McDaniels, why leave, even if Ziegler goes?
That doesn’t mean that McDaniels is totally out of contention for a HC job at some point. The Texans might have interest in bringing him to Houston, as they are run by former Pats executive Nick Caserio and have already interviewed Belichick disciples like Brian Flores and Jerod Mayo.
Breer: "Caserio’s overwhelmingly likely to go get Brian Flores, Jerod Mayo or Josh McDaniels" pic.twitter.com/fgGwhjr7fN
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) January 17, 2022
McDaniels has a perfect situation in New England. Just keep doing what you’re doing until Belichick retires, giving you the option to replace him or look for your own HC job elsewhere. The Raiders might have Derek Carr, but they can’t guarantee that stability.
McDaniels has the luxury of being able to be picky, and he’s taking full advantage.