Patriots could bring back 1 big-name coach?

The New England Patriots logo at midfield before a September 7, 2017 NFL opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Photo Credit: Steve DelVecchio/Larry Brown Sports

The New England Patriots are expected to undergo some significant changes this offseason, and one of them could involve bringing back a well-known coach.

Josh McDaniels is viewed as a candidate to return to the Patriots in 2024, according to a report from Jeff Howe of The Athletic. That would likely only happen if Bill Belichick remained the head coach in New England for another season.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft has not yet made a decision on whether he wants Belichick back next season. Many believe Kraft is leaning toward parting ways with Belichick following a 4-13 campaign, which was the worst record the team has posted since Kraft became owner in 1994.

If Belichick wants to save his job, he will need to lay out a very clear plan for how the Patriots can dramatically improve this offseason. Howe believes one idea that Belichick might pitch is re-hiring McDaniels to be the 71-year-old’s offensive coordinator.

The Patriots were a disaster under de facto offensive coordinator Matt Patricia last season. That resulted in Belichick being pressured (likely by Kraft) to bring in a real OC. Belichick then hired Bill O’Brien for a second stint with the team, but that move did not produce results.

Mac Jones showed serious promise as a rookie in 2021. McDaniels was OC and quarterbacks coach in New England at the time. McDaniels then left to take the head coach job with the Las Vegas Raiders and was fired earlier this year in just his second season.

Now that he has had failed stints as a head coach with the Raiders and Denver Broncos, it is conceivable that McDaniels could return to New England. The question would then be whether Belichick would give his assistant more freedom than he has reportedly given O’Brien.

McDaniels will likely have no problem finding a job as an offensive assistant somewhere. It would not be a surprise if he is waiting to see how the Belichick situation turns out before making any decisions.