When Josh McDaniels left the Patriots in 2022 to become the next head coach of the Raiders, it was a massive blow to the team's offense, especially for quarterback Mac Jones. The offensive coordinator helped put together a solid enough group with Jones that led the Patriots back to the playoffs and even earning Jones Pro Bowl honors.
Once he was calling the shots in Las Vegas, things completely fell apart in Foxboro, and the quarterback was eventually traded to the Jaguars after a long fall from grace. It didn't help that he had a new play-caller every season, but it was clear McDaniels worked his magic to make him into a viable player.
Once he was fired during the 2023 season, rumors began picking up about McDaniels' likely return to where his career flourished the most. The Patriots struggled to find the right offensive coordinator in his absence, and with an expected rookie coming from the 2024 draft, the thought was he would be a great asset to the team.
That idea crashed before being entertained the second Bill Belichick was fired, and Jerod Mayo hired Alex Van Pelt instead. Now that the team is undergoing another personnel change this offseason, with Mike Vrabel becoming the next head coach, it's possible McDaniels will be back sooner rather than later.
The good news is that he continues to receive rave reviews from current and former Patriots players, the latest being Super Bowl legend James White.
James White views Josh McDaniels as the perfect OC to pair with Patriots QB Drake Maye in 2025
While discussing the Patriots' new direction on his Money Down podcast this week, the former running back had a lot to say about McDaniels returning to New England.
White addressed some of the biggest criticisms that the play caller has faced in years past, which he believes isn't valid. He praises the work he has done in the past with quarterbacks he's worked with and explains why he could be a great teacher for Maye over the next few years.
“I think he should, honestly. …I know people like to say his offense may be outdated or whatnot, but I don’t think it is. The versatility that he brings to the table, like we could switch things up from week to week. I don’t know how many offenses do that.
…One week we may run it 90 percent of the time, or one week we may throw it 90 percent of the time depending on what defense we’re going up against. …I do think as far as Josh, him with Drake Maye—you saw what he did for Mac Jones’ rookie season. I think he’ll help him understand the game even more. Slow things down for him and really take his game to that next level.”
He is spot on about how McDaniels goes about game planning and its importance for today's game. Changing your plans depending on the opponent is something we didn't see during the 2024 season, which resulted in many stagnant offensive series for Maye and Co.
Given McDaniels' history working with Tom Brady, he understands defenses and preparing accordingly rather than hoping what you want to do works no matter who your opponent is. That was the impression under Alex Van Pelt in 2024, which failed far more than it was successful.
McDaniels seemed to accomplish that with Jones, who has had a gradual demise since the OC left the Patriots, proving even further just how valuable he is. Because Maye is clearly a far more talented player and quarterback, it's hard to argue that McDaniels wouldn't be a tremendous mentor and asset for him to work with, especially at this stage in his career.