Belichick vs. Patriots: Hiring Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels?

If Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots want to hire Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator, they may have to fight former coach Bill Belichick to get him.

The New England Patriots have an opening at offensive coordinator, and Josh McDaniels is currently out a job - could the two sides reconvene for the third time?

Evidently, the answer is yes ... but with a catch.

The likelihood of McDaniels' return to New England is dependent on whether his former boss and 24-year Patriots head coach Bill Belichick lands the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching gig.

Belichick has interviewed twice for the job, including a trip on Falcons owner Arthur Blank's yacht and a meeting with the entirety of Atlanta's brass.

Should the Falcons hire Belichick, McDaniels is the favorite to be Atlanta's offensive coordinator - but should the Falcons go elsewhere, McDaniels suddenly becomes a possibility in New England.

"If Belichick gets the Falcons job, I think there’s a very strong chance he brings McDaniels with him," The Athletic said Tuesday on the 'Pats Interference' podcast, via NESN. "If Belichick doesn’t get the Falcons job, McDaniels probably jumps to the top of the list for the Patriots."

Nov 3, 2019; Baltimore, MD, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium / Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

McDaniels had two different stints as the Patriots' offensive coordinator, first from 2006-2008 and again from 2012-2021.

New England's newest head coach, Jerod Mayo, was a player on the other side of the ball during four of McDaniels' seasons in Foxboro, and the two coached alongside each other from 2019-2021.

The 47-year-old McDaniels produced top-10 scoring offenses in all but one of his 13 seasons with the Patriots, the lone omission coming with Cam Newton under center in 2020.

McDaniels spent 11 of those 13 seasons with Tom Brady, but proved his offense could succeed with another option as Mac Jones made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021 while New England finished No. 6 in scoring behind a potent rushing attack.

Thereafter, McDaniels became the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, but his offensive success didn't necessarily translate.

With the Raiders, McDaniels' offense ranked No. 12 in both yards and points in 2022 but regressed this past season with Jimmy Garoppolo as his primary starter, slotting at No. 27 and No. 23 in the two categories, respectively.

The Patriots have already begun interviewing candidates to fill the offensive coordinator spot, and McDaniels hasn't yet been mentioned.

NFL Network reported shortly after Mayo's hiring that McDaniels was expected to be at the top of the list of potential options, but there's been no such substance in the days that have followed.

Among those still available, New England's met with a pair of Los Angeles Rams assistants in Zac Robinson and Nick Caley.

The Patriots also interviewed now-Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and now-Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, both of whom were hired to their respective perches after meeting with New England.

'West Coast Offense': Patriots Coordinator Interviews Providing Hints?

Still, the idea of McDaniels venturing back to Foxboro persists - and if Belichick doesn't get the Falcons job, perhaps McDaniels becomes a more realistic candidate for Mayo as he looks to fill out his first coaching staff.

---