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Potential offensive coordinator candidates for Patriots in ’23

By Lou Scataglia

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: Alabama Crimson Tide Offensive Coordinator Bill O'Brien looks on prior to a game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: Alabama Crimson Tide Offensive Coordinator Bill O'Brien looks on prior to a game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The current offensive coaching set up is not working for the Patriots. Who could they bring in as an actual offensive coordinator for 2023?  I think this might be the top priority for the team in the offseason.  Aside from perhaps adding a body or two at receiver and some depth along the offensive line, bringing in someone who is a legitimate offensive coordinator would help so much.

If the team still believes that Mac Jones can be the guy, they’ll need to re-think how they are operating with the Matt Patricia/Joe Judge era on the offensive side of the ball.  The Patriots don’t have to reinvent the wheel here with this hire.

Rather, they simply need to bring in a solid offensive mind to get this unit back into relevance.

Offensive coordinator candidates for Patriots in ’23

1. Frank Reich

I think the most obvious choice here is Frank Reich, who was recently fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, and that ironically came after his team lost to the Patriots.  Reich’s first time as an offensive coordinator came in 2014 with the Chargers.  He then went to the Eagles in 2016 and found himself as the head coach of the Colts in the 2018 season.

He lasted into his fifth year as coach of the Colts, but I personally believe the problem with the Colt is their General Manager, who does not understand positional value and was never a risk taker in free agency.

Reich has commandeered multiple top 10 scoring offenses and has had solid success working with veteran quarterbacks.

2. Bill O’Brien

There is an obvious connection here with the New England Patriots.  He was on the Patriots staff from 2007-2011 in various roles.  He then coached at the college level at Penn State before returning to the NFL level as head coach of the Houston Texans.

He was fired during the 2020 season and has since gone back to college as the offensive coordinator at Alabama.  I think O’Brien would like to come back to the NFL, and even though he did end his NFL tenure in 2020 on a sour note, he is a strong offensive mind who would work very well with Mac Jones if the team wanted to keep him as the QB going forward.

3. Josh McDaniels

Maybe I am cheating here a bit, but Josh McDaniels’ second stint as a head coach is not going well.  He has his Raiders’ team at 3-7 and have already hit their loss total from a year ago, even with a stronger roster.  It’s clear that while McDaniels is a strong offensive mind and play-caller, his skills and qualities to be a head coach might not be there.

I do think there is a scenario where the Raiders continue to lose and he is canned after one year.  The Patriots might actually prefer that as well, because McDaniels has made most of himself as a coach as the OC for New England.

It’s a logical fit if McDaniels does get fired, and it’s very unlikely he’d immediately get another look as a head coach.

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