Tom Brady has enjoyed some of his best NFL seasons under Josh McDaniels. So, it’s no wonder that Brady wants the Patriots offensive coordinator to stay in New England a while longer.
McDaniels, 37, is already rumored to be the top target for the Cleveland Browns and several other teams looking for head coaches this offseason. He drew interest from the Browns, among other teams, last offseason as well, but eventually turned down those opportunities to stick with the Patriots. With McDaniels’ name back on the radar once again, though, Brady is hoping for similar result again this year.
“I have so much respect for him and what he does for me, what he does for our team,” Brady said on WEEI’s Dennis & Callahan on Monday. “He’s just a great coach. He’s got a lot of poise. He’s got a lot of disciple. I hope he doesn’t go anywhere. I’d love for him to coach me the rest of my life. But that’s just the way it is. He’s one of my best friends, and I love having him.”
McDaniels is in his second stint with the Patriots (2001-2008 and 2011-present) after failing to find success during two seasons as head coach of the Denver Broncos and a short stopover as the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams. McDaniels was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator for five seasons (2006-2008 and 2012-2013), and during those years, Brady was arguably at his best.
Brady won one of his two MVP awards and threw 133 of his 359 career touchdowns under McDaniels’ watch. McDaniels was also the offensive coordinator during the Patriots’ historic 2007 season, when Brady threw a then-record 50 touchdown passes. Brady has thrived especially since McDaniels returned as offensive coordinator last season, throwing for more than 9,000 yards, 59 touchdowns and just 19 interceptions over the last two seasons.
“Josh is the best offensive coach I could ever imagine,” Brady said. “He’s so prepared. He’s so confident in what he does. He figures out a way each week to get us in the best position as players to win.”
While becoming a head coach again is likely on McDaniels’ list of career goals, his return to New England at the end of the 2011 season was as much about stability as it was rebuilding his reputation, as the NFL Network’s Albert Breer pointed out on Monday. McDaniels has four young children and is one of the highest-paid assistants in the NFL, so he has incentives to stay put rather than jump at a risky opportunity.
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