There has been a lot of speculation about Mike Vrabel's choices for his staff now that he is the official head coach of the Patriots for 2025 and beyond, with most of the focus surrounding who would be the next offensive coordinator.
Given how well Alex Van Pelt seemed to work with rookie quarterback Drake Maye, there was some talk about keeping him on board in some role, especially since he has not been let go from the team yet.
But rumors about Josh McDaniels making his third return to New England after another failed stint as head coach dominated headlines over the past few weeks, and according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, it seems to be official now.
Throwback: The #Patriots are expected to hire Josh McDaniels to be their offensive coordinator, sources say, his third stint in this role.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2025
The favorite all along, he interviewed today and solidified his standing. Now, he’ll join Mike Vrabel’s staff and work with Drake Maye. pic.twitter.com/LWEmZJjhsm
The Patriots continue down a familiar path by re-hiring Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator
McDaniels reportedly interviewed for the job on Tuesday, and it seems as though he didn't leave the building without it. Despite others meeting with Vrabel and Co., the favorite for the job from the start is now the offensive coordinator, bringing back another former Patriot to the team.
While it might not be the most loved decision, given how long McDaniels served in this role for the team previously, it brings a lot of stability to the position and for Maye moving forward. McDaniels was never fired as an OC in New England, therefore creating doubt that it will suddenly happen now. That inevitably allows Maye to grow with an OC instead of getting the Mac Jones treatment of a new play caller every new year.
That's a massive benefit for a player like Maye, who will now have plenty of time to work with McDaniels ahead of the 2025 season. There's also a chance Van Pelt will stick around in another role, perhaps as a quarterbacks coach, and that could be a big help for the new OC.
Time will tell, but the initial response to this first big hire should be positive. McDaniels was always a well-regarded offensive guru, and although there were things fans wanted to see changed, there was no debating how solid he was for the Patriots during their dynasty years. Hopefully, he can help replicate that success with a young quarterback and bring the team back to their glory days.