Is Bill O’Brien considering a return to the Patriots next year?
When longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left the Patriots after the 2021 season, many fans hoped to see the return of Bill O’Brien in his place. Because that didn’t happen, and a new report this week suggested O’Brien is considering a return to the NFL, the desire to see him back in New England has significantly heightened over the last several weeks.
Although the offense needed some shaking up, replacing McDaniels would be challenging. When it was made clear that Bill Belichick was choosing to bring back Joe Judge and move Matt Patricia to work with the offense, the excitement many felt for a freshened-up offense quickly vanished and worsened when his personnel decisions became official.
When news broke that Judge was returning to the Patriots after being fired from his head coaching gig with the New York Giants, more questions began trickling in for Belichick specifically. Despite his previous experience with the organization, his time in New York was a failure, leading many to wonder why the decision was made to bring him back to New England.
A year prior, Patricia’s return was also met with criticism, mainly due to it coming after his own failed time as the Detroit Lions head coach. He was initially brought in and given the senior football advisor title, working more behind the scenes than directly with the team. But after McDaniels’ departure, Belichick switched the former defensive coordinator from that role to a more hands-on position coaching the offensive line and calling plays.
Patricia’s tenure as the offensive play-caller was a questionable decision from the start. Although coaches rotating from one side of the team to the other is nothing new, his three years in Detroit didn’t provide much optimism that he would succeed in his new role. On top of that, how the offense performed during the preseason left much to be desired and has shown little improvement through 13 weeks of the regular season.
After the Patriots suffered another brutal loss on Thursday night to the Buffalo Bills, the calls for Patricia’s firing have grown louder. It’s clearer than ever that a change needs to be made, especially after seeing players like Mac Jones and Kendrick Bourne expressing their frustration with the current state of the offense.
With O’Brien reportedly contemplating making his way back to the NFL, his return to New England should be strongly considered. Not only does he have previous experience with the organization, working as the offensive play caller in 2009 and 2010 and as the OC in 2011, but O’Brien’s first year at the University of Alabama was spent coaching Mac Jones’ offense. Because Jones has struggled in his second NFL season, primarily due to poor coaching, play-calling, and offensive line issues, reuniting with a familiar face like O’Brien could be precisely what is needed to propel the team forward.
As his consideration to be Patricia’s replacement has heated up recently, Belichick was asked if he had thought about bringing back his former colleague during an appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show last week.
"“I haven’t talked to Bill in a little while. So, I don’t know, I wouldn’t really want to comment on his situation. I think that’s something for him to comment on.”"
It’s fair to assume the two haven’t spoken as they are both currently in the midst of football season. But Belichick’s answer didn’t exactly close the door on the possibility of O’Brien returning to New England.