As far back as last January, Bill O'Brien looked like the most obvious candidate for the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator job.
So, why did it take until last week for the team to hire him?
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer on Monday reported the Patriots did not attempt to bring in O'Brien as Josh McDaniels' initial replacement last offseason because Bill Belichick feared losing him to a head-coaching gig after one year.
O'Brien spent the last two seasons at Alabama, serving out a two-year contract as Nick Saban's offensive coordinator.
"(I)t's certainly fair to ask why (Belichick) didn't just go get O'Brien last year," Breer wrote. "I'm told the reason he didn't even pursue it with Saban was out of fear that O'Brien might do well enough in a year to land a head coaching job elsewhere, leaving the Patriots to replace a coordinator two years in a row."
Of course, the Patriots wound up having to do that anyway after Belichick's decision to replace McDaniels with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge failed in spectacular fashion.
Days after their season ended with a Week 18 loss in Buffalo, the Patriots announced they would begin a search for an official offensive coordinator. After interviewing five candidates, they ultimately hired O'Brien, who previously ran New England's offense from 2009-11.
O'Brien's pedigree makes him a natural fit for the role, and the Patriots' offense should improve next season after ranking near the bottom of the NFL in most categories in 2022. But the threat of him potentially leaving after one season still is present, so it would behoove New England to already begin grooming a possible successor.
It's unclear how the Patriots plan to structure their offensive coaching staff beneath O'Brien, but they reportedly are expected to hire additional assistants this offseason. Ex-Patriots linemen Adrian Klemm and Ryan Wendell both have been tabbed to interview for the vacant offensive line coach position, according to reports, with Klemm also interviewing for the coordinator job before O'Brien was hired.
Offensive assistants Judge, Troy Brown, Vinnie Sunseri, Ross Douglas and Billy Yates are part of the Patriots' coaching contingent at the East-West Shrine Bowl. That suggests they likely will be on staff next season, though not necessarily in the same roles. Patricia and tight ends coach Nick Caley did not join the team in Las Vegas, putting their futures with the franchise in question.
O'Brien also could import assistants who worked under him while he was head coach of the Houston Texans.
