Could the Patriots lose offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to a head coaching opportunity in the future?
All 10 NFL teams with turnover at the position following the end of the regular season have filled those vacancies, but McDaniels gave a vague answer when asked whether he still strives to be a head coach in the league.
“Every day is one day at a time for me now. I think I’m where I’m supposed to be,” McDaniels said to a small group of reporters, on the floor of Super Bowl Opening Night. “I’m incredibly happy to be here and doing what I’m doing. I love my job. I love the role that I have. I love the group that I’m with. Whatever that plan is down the road, we’ll figure that out, but I couldn’t be more happy with where I’m at.”
Did…did McDaniels just leave the door ajar to future interviews?
Look, on the one hand, he’d be silly not to hint at his own openness at any possibilities. Even if he doesn’t want to take on another head coach adventure following two short stints in Denver and Las Vegas, and one false start to Indy, he can use any opportunity as leverage once the well from Vegas runs dry. McDaniels signed a six-year deal in 2022, so the end date for mailbox money is coming up in the not-so-distant future.
On the other hand, McDaniels has struck this tone all year.
He – like everybody else in Foxboro over the last six months – is having fun with professional football again. He genuinely seems happy.
But is he fulfilled? Is it possible that McDaniels looked around at this coaching carousel, saw how many fired coaches are getting another shot, (Kevin Stefanski, John Harbaugh, Mike McCarthy, Robert Saleh this year alone), and wondered whether the right owner will be willing to give him another shot in the coming years?
McDaniels getting a third shot wouldn’t be an unprecedented move. As previously mentioned, the Pittsburgh Steelers just picked up McCarthy after he flamed out in Green Bay and Dallas. But McCarthy has a Super Bowl and 11 winning seasons as a head coach. McDaniels’ hiring would have to be based on his unbelievable success with Maye this year, and whatever the two accomplish together afterwards.
If he’s a flight risk for such a chance, what’s most important is that McDaniels looks to be paired with Maye for another season, lending the young quarterback consistency after having his play caller and offense changed following his rookie year. The two have obvious chemistry, and McDaniels has done wonders in encouraging Maye to remain a passer as long as possible this year, opening up the deep strikes that have become his signature.
But if the Krafts can do anything to further encourage McDaniels’ long term commitment, (ahem, *wallet cracks open here*), it would only benefit Maye, and what Vrabel’s built this season.
Last time McDaniels left, the Patriots’ young quarterback development cratered. Rookie Mac Jones had a 92.5 passer rating over his season. That dropped to an 84.8% under Belichick’s bizarre Matt Patricia move, and it never recovered in Foxboro. Yes, that’s an extreme case. But stability means the world to young QBs, and a chosen few find the success Maye has at 23 years old.
Things won’t always be this happy in Foxboro. It may take a little more to keep McDaniels around for years to come.