Josh McDaniels is building his own version of Patriots West.
New England’s longtime offensive coordinator brought former Patriots offensive assistants Mick Lombardi, Bo Hardegree and Carmen Bricillo with him to Las Vegas last month. On Monday, we found out McDaniels has also hired former Patriots quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski to work as a senior offensive assistant.
A fellow John Carroll alumnus, Schuplinski worked with McDaniels in Foxborough for six seasons. Schuplinski was promoted to quarterback coach in 2016, when he earned praise for his work with Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett while Tom Brady was serving his four-game Deflategate suspension.
After leaving the Patriots in 2018, Schuplinski worked with quarterbacks for the Dolphins and Giants.
Former Patriots defensive assistants Daniel Graham and Rex Ryan are on McDaniels’ staff as well.
The Patriots haven’t named an offensive coordinator to replace McDaniels. Schuplinski was loosely speculated as a candidate to join the staff, given his experience working with Bill Belichick, but there apparently wasn’t contact between the two sides.
Earlier this week, ESPN reported there’s an “open belief” across the NFL that Belichick could take over as the Patriots’ offensive play-caller next season.
