What Bill O'Brien's departure means for Patriots
A familiar face will soon be making his way back to Gillette Stadium to interview for the job he was never considered for a few seasons ago.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the New England Patriots are set to interview their former and now current Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach Nick Caley for their vacant offensive coordinator position. Caley has been coaching football for nearly two decades, with 10 years of experience at the collegiate level, followed by nine years at the pro level, with eight of those seasons coming in New England.
This is an interesting, and to some regionally, overdue development, as many thought Caley would have gotten a chance to submit his name for the job in 2022 when Josh McDaniels departed for the Las Vegas Raiders. Instead then-coach Bill Belichick opted to go with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge as part of his “offensive braintrust.” As you might remember, things didn’t work out too well for all parties that season…and that’s putting it mildly.
Not only did some fans and media members think Caley should have been considered for the post, he also had support from trusted veteran coaching voices within the organization like former offensive line coach and Patriots Hall of Famer Dante Scarnecchia. Said Scar as to why a tight ends coach would make for a good OC: “When you coach the tight ends, you’re coaching a position that transcends the entire offense. He’s involved in the passing game, so Nick has been in every passing-game meeting. And the run game, so he’s been in every run-game meeting.”
Few know the offense, offensive line and duties of the coaches better than Scarnecchia, whose words may well resonate now for Caley.
The tight ends coach with the Patriots from 2017-22 (he joined the staff as an offensive assistant in 2015), Caley remained with the Pats in 2022 after being overlooked. He was blocked from interviewing for other jobs outside the organization in 2022, and once out of his contract interviewed with the Jets and Texans about their offensive coordinator openings in 2023 before departing for the TE coach gig with the Rams under Sean McVay.
Though it was just one season, getting a chance to learn under McVay, who has successfully run one of the best offensives in the NFL for years now, could only bolster Caley’s case. Now comes Caley’s chance to show what he’s learned over the years, including that lone season with McVay. He’s known Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo for years, having worked alongside each other from 2019-22. He seems to check an awful lot of the boxes for an OC and his experience and relationships should make him a top candidate.
The Patriots have interviewed a number of candidates for special teams and defensive coordinator, but Caley’s meeting Monday marks their first OC look to date. Though first in line, perhaps he’ll make a strong enough impression to finally land where many thought he belonged.