The Patriots are likely to lose a key coach at the end of the season. No, I’m not talking about the annual attempted distraction piece released by ESPN shortly before the playoffs began. I’m talking about the current Patriots’ Offensive Coordinator, Josh McDaniels. At the end of the season, McDaniels is expected to land a head coaching position with another NFL team. Rumors have swirled that he’s at the “top of the list” for a few teams, but is likely to be named the head coach of the 2014 AFC Finalist, Indianapolis Colts. Offensive Coordinator jobs are never easy to fill, but the Patriots have a few solid internal options. Let’s take a look at them.
Josh McDaniels’ Patriots History
The Patriots dynasty began in 2001. It has lasted for the last 18 years (and counting). Other than Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady, can you name the other 3 coaches that were there in year one? The title gave some of it away, didn’t it? Josh McDaniels, the Patriots Offensive Coordinator, Ivan Fears, the RBs Coach, and Dante Scarnecchia, the OL Coach are the others. Let’s take a look at Josh McDaniels’ history with the Patriots.
2001 – 2008: McDaniels’ First Patriots Stint
Josh McDaniels started his NFL coaching career in the 2001 season, the same year the team brought home it’s first Lombardi Trophy. McDaniels joined the team as a personnel assistant for the 2001 season. In 2002, he was promoted to defensive assistant, where he worked under Romeo Crennel, the Patriots’ Defensive Coordinator for both the 2002 and 2003 seasons. McDaniels switched back to offense in 2004 when he became the Patriots’ Quarterbacks Coach for the next 2 years. McDaniels began calling offensive plays for the Patriots in 2005. The following season, he was promoted to Offensive Coordinator while still maintaining his role as the team’s Quarterbacks Coach.
McDaniels’ second season as the Patriots’ Offensive Coordinator was one for the record books. Under his leadership, the offense set single-season NFL records for touchdowns scored (75) and points scored (589) while completing a perfect 16-0 regular season. Immediately, he became the NFL’s hottest head coach prospect. After the season, Bill Belichick gave McDaniels his “bible” – a five-page report on how to be an effective head coach. Instead of standing in the way, Belichick met with McDaniels regularly in order to prepare him for head coaching interviews.
The 2008 Patriots season was a tough one. In the opening minutes of the season, Tom Brady went down with a torn ACL & MCL, ending his year almost before it began. The Patriots looked to their Offensive Coordinator for guidance. Miraculously, the Patriots finished 11-5 with Matt Cassel, who didn’t start a game in college, at QB.
2009 – 2011: Broncos Head Coach & Rams Offensive Coordinator
Shortly after the 2008 season, Josh McDaniels officially accepted the Denver Broncos’ Head Coach position, vacated by longtime coach, Mike Shanahan. McDaniels’ first attempt as a head coach wasn’t pretty. In year 1, McDaniels lost the respect of the team’s quarterback, Jay Cutler, over a potential trade offer with the Patriots that would’ve sent Matt Cassel to Denver. Following the blowup, the Broncos traded Cutler and a 2009 fifth-round draft pick to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Kyle Orton, a 2009 first-round pick, a 2009 third-round pick, and a 2010 first-round pick. In the 2009 draft, McDaniels used a first-round pick to draft Florida Gators phenom, Tim Tebow. As you could have guessed, it didn’t end well because Tim cannot throw. Year 2 wasn’t much better for Josh. After a video-taping scandal during the 2010 season, the Broncos fired McDaniels.
McDaniels accepted a job as the Rams Offensive Coordinator for the 2011 season. After a poor season the Rams fired the Head Coach, Steve Spagnoulo. The Rams informed McDaniels that he was free to look for another job, despite being under contract through 2012. He did.
2012 – Present: McDaniels’ Second Patriots Stint
After hearing the news that the Rams would let McDaniels go, the Patriots brought him back as an “offensive assistant” for the 2011 playoff run. It was the perfect transition plan as Bill O’Brien had already accepted the head coaching position with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Following the playoffs, McDaniels returned as the Patriots Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, the same role he had held from 2006-2008. Under McDaniels, the offense has flourished, yet again. Two more Lombardi trophies have returned to Foxborough, and the Patriots are one of the final four teams left this season. Should he decide to leave, replacing Josh McDaniels will be undoubtedly tough for the Patriots. When McDaniels got his shot to be the Patriots Offensive Coordinator in 2006, he was the “next man up.” Who will it be this time? Here are two current Patriots coaches that I believe are at the “top of the list” for the open position.
Option #1: Chad O’Shea
The front-runner for the next Patriots Offensive Coordinator role is current Wide Receivers Coach, Chad O’Shea. O’Shea has 22 years of coaching experience, 15 in the NFL. He’s been with the Patriots in the same position (WR Coach) since 2009. In the “Do Your Job 2” documentary, it was revealed that O’Shea is also in charge of much of the red-zone offense for the Patriots.
Over the course of his career, O’Shea has helped turn “unknowns” like Wes Welker and Julian Edelman (a college Quarterback), into elite receivers. Since 2009, the Patriots have had some of the best receiving groups without a “high profile” or “prototypical” #1 receiver. Some of that credit goes to Tom Brady, but Chad O’Shea has been key to the team’s production.
Why O’Shea?
O’Shea also has experience calling plays for the offense. In Week 4 of the 2017 preseason, in what many assumed was an audition for the Patriots’ Offensive Coordinator role should McDaniels leave at the end of the season, O’Shea was given the playbook. According to coaches and players, O’Shea is well-respected with a hard work-ethic and would make an excellent choice as the next Patriots Offensive Coordinator. All that, mixed with his red-zone preparation, makes him an attractive candidate and the internal front-runner.
Option #2: Ivan Fears
Yep, the same Ivan Fears that has been with the team since 1999.Fears has been coaching for 41 years. This season is his 27th in the NFL and 21st with the New England Patriots. He’s been around for it all and he’s arguably the most familiar with Bill Belichick’s system.
As the team’s Running Backs Coach for the last 16 years, Fears’ backs have been featured. The group has helped the Patriots finish in the top 10 in offense in 11 of the last 15 seasons. During that stretch, Fears has coached four different 1,000 yard rushers. From Corey Dillon, to “The Law Firm” BenJarvus Green-Ellis, to Stevan Ridley, and LeGarrette Blount, Fears has maintained incredible consistency among an ever-changing group.
Fears isn’t only a Running Backs specialist. He’s also spent time as the team’s receivers coach. In 2001, Fears was the coach behind Troy Brown and David Patten’s career years. Brown hauled in a franchise record 101 receptions and a career-high 1,199 yards. Patten had the best season of his career, too, logging 51 receptions for 749 yards and 4 touchdowns. That year, the Patriots’ receiving group played a pivotal role in winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
Why Fears?
Ok, but Fears has been in the league forever. He’s getting older. Why would he be the best choice as the new Patriots Offensive Coordinator? One word: evolution. Let’s face it. Tom Brady ain’t getting younger. While he can eat all the avocado ice cream he wants, at some point, his body is going to break down (blasphemy!!) and the team is going to have to find a new quarterback or transition to a new offensive scheme. Could that be why the Patriots went with a 4-headed running back committee this year? Running Backs have been a feature point for the Patriots more than usual this season. As many have pointed out, there’s a serious void in star-power once Brady, Manning, and Rodgers eventually retire. Aside from Carson Wentz and mayyyybbbbeeee Jared Goff, there’s not a lot of elite youth at the QB position. Would you put it past Bill Belichick to be “ahead of the curve” and architect an offense based around the Running Back? Me neither.
Two Honorable Mentions and the Final Verdict
Stop me if you’ve heard one of these things before. Bill Belichick’s coaching tree is extensive. Alabama’s Nick Saban is the “Bill Belichick” of College Football. (Saban coached under Belichick for 4 years with the Cleveland Browns.) Under his leadership, the SEC powerhouse has been an unstoppable force, winning 5 of the last 9 National Championships. Brian Daboll, the Crimson Tide’s current Offensive Coordinator, is our first honorable mention. Only one year removed, the former Patriots Tight End Coach would be an easy transition back into the offense. Though Daboll was with the Patriots from 2001-2006 and again from 2013-2016, it’s hard to imagine he’d leave ‘Bama after a season.
We have to give the second honorable mention to the Patriots’ Assistant Quarterbacks Coach, Jerry Schuplinski. Internally, he’s seen as a key part of the organization’s success and has been publicly credited by Bill Belichick as an important part of of the team’s success. This is Schuplinski’s second year as the team’s QB’s Coach and thus, I think it might be a little soon to hand over the keys to the entire offense. However, he’s certainly someone to keep an eye on. (Interesting side-note: Would you be shocked to see Josh McDaniels’ brother, Ben McDaniels, as the new QB’s Coach should the Patriots choose to hire Schuplinski?)Â
Ultimately, I think O’Shea’s the next Patriots Offensive Coordinator. Both O’Shea and Fears would be excellent and well-respected choices, but I believe the team will ultimately choose to roll with O’Shea, given his experience with calling plays and his ownership over the red-zone offense.
Perhaps McDaniels won’t even leave.
