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BREAKING: Bill O’Brien named New England Patriots’ OC

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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Early Tuesday morning, it was reported that former Patriots’ staffer, Texans’ head coach, and Alabama OC Bill O’Brien is the new Patriots OC.  O’Brien was on the Patriots’ staff from 2007-2011 and now returns to the team in a move that many saw coming.

BoB is a strong offensive mind who brings head coaching experience to the fold as well, and is perhaps setting himself up nicely to land another NFL head coaching job one day, perhaps taking over for Bill Belichick.

He coached Penn State in 2012 and 2013 before getting hired by the Houston Texans.  He held that position from 2014 until his firing early in the 2020 season.  Then, he went back to the college ranks at Alabama to serve as the team’s offensive coordinator.

With the Patriots, O’Brien was an assistant, wide receivers’ coach, QB coach, and an offensive coordinator.  He does have quite the history as an offensive mind, and I think his tenure with the Texans is still sitting awkwardly for many.

He’s also been a very good head coach, so New England is really making a strong hire here.  The team obviously needs to fix their inept offense, which was up and down all year.  Their redzone offense was just about the worst in the NFL, and the regression from Mac Jones was obvious.

To me, this move signals the beginning of things trending in the right direction for New England.  Now that they have the play-caller situated, they can focus on trying to find a difference maker at wide receiver and perhaps a couple new tackles as well.

The Patriots have roughly $50 million in cap space for 2023, and I do wonder if Bill O’Brien might get a bit of a say in some of the personnel they may try to bring in.  Overall, this is a fantastic move by the organization.

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