The week of the NFL owners meetings, Josh McDaniels spoke with the Boston Globe about his decision to leave the Colts at the altar and return to the Patriots as offensive coordinator following verbally agreeing to become their next head coach.
On Friday, he further explained the move when addressing reporters at Gillette Stadium.
"Those things are not easy decisions to make," McDaniels said to reporters. "I'm sure a lot of us have had to make decisions about what we feel like is best for ourselves, our career, our families. And I'm thankful to be here. This has been a great place for me, it's really benefited me and my family. We're grateful to have an opportunity to work for Mr. Kraft and his family, to coach for Bill [Belichick], and to be with the staff every day and the players that we have an opportunity to work with. It really is an opportunity that you have to cherish and be grateful for each day. And I certainly am."
Given his previous head-coaching experience and talent as a coordinator, some speculated he may worked out some sort of deal to be the Patriots' head coach in waiting.
McDaniels said that wasn't the case.
"Nope. No. I mean, my role is the same," he said. "Look, I think you're -- if you're here, you have an opportunity to work with and for some of the best people in our game. Maybe some of the best people who have ever done those things in our game. So I feel like it's a great opportunity to be here in my role. And I think all of us feel that way. What you get to see every day. Who you get to be around. I took four pages of notes yesterday in our squad meeting, and I've been here for a long time. So there's a lot to get to build on and try to become better at your profession. I think we all do that. Whatever is going to happen in the future is going to happen. I'll be happy with whatever that is. I just know I'm grateful to have the opportunity here to be the offensive coordinator here, coaching quarterbacks. Work with the offense and work with the people that I work for."
At 42 years old, he still has plenty of time to one day be a head coach again, but for now his sole focus is on the 2018 Patriots.
"I'll say this — I've stated again and again: I definitely want to be a head coach again," he said. "At the same time, I love being here, you know? This is where my kids were born and raised. We've made a pretty special life here, and that's not an easy thing to leave. So there's a lot to consider. Certainly leaving here, I don't take that lightly. I would never take that lightly. It was a difficult process, and I'm very happy with the decision that we made. And grateful to be here and continue working toward the 2018 season."
In his second stint in New England, McDaniels has been the Patriots' offensive coordinator since 2012.
