Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer provided insightful information on Monday on NBC Sports Boston on the actions of newly appointed Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo about Bill O’Brien’s position as offensive coordinator.
“O’Brien will be considered for the position… However, Breer stated, “I believe there will be an immediate open search for an offensive coordinator.”
In an attempt to invigorate quarterback Mac Jones and elevate the offense into a top-10 unit, the Patriots signed O’Brien in the offseason of 2022.
However, by the end of the season, the offense ranked 31st in terms of points per game (13.9), Jones was benched halfway through, and the team’s record was 4-13.
There will be several excellent names to pick from if the Patriots decide to move on from O’Brien, as Breer believes they may do.
Josh McNamara
Josh McDaniels ought to be the Patriots’ first choice if they want to hire new players as quickly as possible.
From 2012 to 2021, McDaniels oversaw offensive operations for New England. In the offseason of 2022, he accepted a head coaching position with the Las Vegas Raiders.
After mustering a dismal 9-16 record in one-and-a-half seasons, McDaniels was fired by Las Vegas in early November and he is currently one of the top free-agent coaches available.
Saturday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo shared that McDaniels would be the top choice for Mayo should he part ways with O’Brien.
“Bill O’Brien is under contract right now, but Josh McDaniels—a well-known player—should be at the top of the list to be Jerod Mayo’s next offensive coordinator if he and the Patriots part ways.”
It’s obvious why McDaniels appeals to the Patriots. He is well-known to many of the coaches and players on the squad. He also played a significant role in the 2021 offense, which finished eighth in the league in points scored per game (26.6).
To get back to its best, the Patriots offense—which is currently in disarray—needs a player just like McDaniels to join the team.
Shane Waldron, the Orange Jersey Seahawks
Former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron might be the ideal choice for the Patriots if they’re searching for a highly experienced coach.
Ironically, Waldron started his coaching career as an operations intern with New England in 2002. He has worked with and learned from very successful coaches like Pete Carroll, Sean McVay, and Bill Belichick.
Waldron is aware of the requirements necessary to advance to the greatest sporting event and to win. In 2019, Waldron served as the Rams’ coordinator of the passing game and contributed to Los Angeles’ NFC championship and Super Bowl matchup with New England.
Following Russell Wilson’s trade to the Broncos in March 2022, Geno Smith moved from being a terrible backup quarterback in 2021 to a top-tier starting in 2022. The 44-year-old also oversaw Smith’s incredible turnaround.
The Patriots will either choose a new quarterback in the 2024 draft or continue with Mac Jones, their starting quarterback in 2023 despite a terrible season. Using Waldron as the offensive coordinator would be a wise decision in either case due to his background in identifying and nurturing quarterback talent.
Teams in need of OC are already vying for Waldron’s attention. As reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, on January 10, the Chicago Bears asked to speak with Waldron about their open offensive line position. The Patriots would need to move quickly on Waldron before it’s too late if they are interested in him.
Los Angeles Rams TE coach Nick Caley
Nick Caley, the tight ends coach for the Los Angeles Rams, interviewed for the available offensive coordinator position with the Patriots during the previous summer while he was working as the tight ends coach for New England.
Even though O’Brien was hired but Caley was not, Robert Kraft and the Patriots executives showed their appreciation for Caley’s intellect and coaching ability by interviewing him.
Caley has only worked under two head coaches in his NFL career, thus most clubs would not consider him a top offensive line choice. However, the Patriots view Caley as an appeasement option given his seven years on the coaching staff (2015–22).
Caley served as Belichick’s offensive assistant as well as the fullbacks and tight ends coaches. He is more than familiar with Belichick’s methodology; the question is whether he will adjust to Mayo’s approach.
Although Caley and Mayo co-coached from 2019 to 22 and probably got along well, there’s still a good chance that their offensive strategies and methods of preparation are very different. Moreover, Mayo might be hesitant to hire an offensive coordinator from the Belichick era as he establishes his coaching philosophy and methodology.
Caley would be a very wise hire if Mayo concurs with the offensive philosophy that Caley learned while they were working together. But Mayo needs to stay away if he doesn’t agree.
