The New England Patriots have brought back a familiar face to lead their offense, reuniting with Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator for the upcoming 2025 season. This marks McDaniels' third stint with the Patriots, although it's his first time working with head coach Mike Vrabel and second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
McDaniels was selected from a pool of candidates that included Thomas Brown of the Chicago Bears and Marcus Brady of the Los Angeles Chargers. He returns to the NFL after being let go by the Las Vegas Raiders mid-season in 2023, a year after his unsuccessful head coaching tenure with the team. While the Raiders continue their search for a permanent head coach, the Patriots opted for Vrabel after parting ways with Jerod Mayo.
Although Vrabel and McDaniels haven't coached together before, they share a history from their time with the Patriots during the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era, where they won three Super Bowls together. McDaniels began his NFL coaching career with the Patriots in 2001 as an assistant under Belichick. He later became head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009 but was dismissed in 2010. After a brief stint as the Rams' offensive coordinator, he returned to New England until his departure for the Raiders.
In his most recent role with the Patriots, McDaniels mentored Mac Jones, the team's 2021 first-round draft pick, and helped them reach the playoffs. Now, he's tasked with guiding Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, who displayed promise as a rookie despite the team's struggles. This reunion brings a wealth of experience to the Patriots as they aim to rebuild and return to their winning ways.
