The NFL’s Career Development Advisory Panel has put together a preliminary list of recommended coaching candidates and New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels isn’t on it, per Mike Florio of ProFootball Talk.
On the surface, it doesn’t make much sense because McDaniels has previous head coaching experience and is widely regarded as one of the top coordinators in the league. A source explained to Florio, however, that “McDaniels was left of the list because the thinking is that he’s intent on staying at New England until coach Bill Belichick retires, succeeding Belichick as the team’s head coach.”
Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is on the list, and Belichick — who by his own admission hasn’t seen the list first hand — believes both Patricia and McDaniels should be on any list of head coaching candidates, and that any list omitting them “would be incomplete.”
McDaniels has been a head coach candidate over the past few offseasons, while Patricia’s name really gained steam last offseason. Patricia even interviewed for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching vacancy before Cleveland hired Hue Jackson prior to this season.
McDaniels, on a media conference call Tuesday, called reports saying he wants to succeed Belichick in New England “unfounded,” while also reiterating his stance on future head coach opportunities.
“I’m aware of the report, and I’ll try and clear that up. Look, I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I definitely would love to be a head coach again,” McDaniels said.
“There’s only 32 of those in the world. Those are opportunities that don’t come along very often and if you would ever to be so fortunate and blessed to have another opportunity to do it, and for myself it would be the second time. It would be an opportunity that I would look forward to.
“It would have to be at the right place, the right time, which is what I’ve always said. I try to make good decisions with what is best for my family and myself, and again, somebody would have to offer that opportunity, which you’re lucky if you get that. That’s my mindset. Anything that was reported about my thinking or my plans, things that I want to do the other day, I saw that, and those things I would say are unfounded.”
McDaniels’ and Patricia’s long-term futures with the Patriots might be unclear, but there’s no question they are among the top head coaching candidates for teams to pursue after this season.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
