On Saturday, Chad Graff of The Athletic shared part of a conversation he had with Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft on X.com, where the beat reporter asked the 83-year-old to share some insight on the hiring of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
"When we interviewed Mike [Vrabel] and asked whom he might be interested in bringing on, without a pause, his first one was to bring Josh McDaniels because he thought it would be something very special for Drake [Maye],” said Kraft, via Graff’s post on X.
“Their experience and chemistry together is very positive. I think that was a good development. From every way you look at it, I think it's a win-win. It was his decision. Josh was very excited. Hope we get the fruits of the potential positives out of that. He has a pretty good history of developing and dealing with good quarterbacks and developing an offense that can really produce."
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft prior to the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots on November 25, 2018 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Kraft’s comments to Graff come after weeks of conversation around the hire, with both fans and media alike suggesting that McDaniels was brought in because of his preexisting relationship with the organization, and not because he was truly the best man for the job.
2025 will be McDaniels’ third go-around with the Patriots as their offensive coordinator, and his 19th season overall as a member of the organization.
Here’s McDaniels’ full coaching resume in New England:
First Stint:
2001: Personnel Assistant
2002-03: Defensive Assistant
2004-05: Quarterbacks Coach
2006-08: Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach
Second Stint:
2012-19: Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach
2020: Offensive Coordinator
2021: Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach
With the Patriots winning six Super Bowls with McDaniels as a member of their coaching staff, it’s not a stretch to imagine the Krafts wanting a trusted winner in the offensive meeting room after the last three seasons of abysmal output from that side of the ball. And with their new face of the franchise in Maye showing flashes of brilliance in his rookie season en route to a Pro Bowl, you can understand why ownership would want to make sure they got this hire right.
But if we are to believe Kraft, the McDaniels-hire was Vrabel’s call.
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans talks with head coach Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders prior to an NFL football game at Nissan Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
When Kraft said to Graff “their experience and chemistry together is very positive,” it may have turned some heads, considering 15 of McDaniels’ 18 seasons with the Patriots were fully dedicated to the offensive side of the football. But when you look at McDaniels’ New England resume, you see his two seasons spent as a defensive assistant during the heyday of the dynasty defense. Vrabel was a vocal leader in those defensive meeting rooms as a player while McDaniels was a young assistant.
So while their direct “experience” working together may be limited - and may have been over 20 years ago - it did, indeed, happen, and could, in theory, have been “very positive.” Whether the alleged “chemistry” Kraft mentioned is still palpable remains to be seen.
