As the New England Patriots look ahead to a future that may or may not involve Bill Belichick, some anticipate that one of the coaches who will help replace him will be Josh McDaniels. According to others, McDaniels, who has six Super Bowl rings from two stints on Belichick’s staff in Foxboro, will be the offensive coordinator on a 2024 “dream team” that also includes Jerod Mayo as defensive coordinator and Mike Vrabel as head coach.
McDaniels’ reputation, meanwhile, is in tatters throughout the rest of the NFL. It’s not simply that he’s 20-33 as a head coach in four seasons. It’s more about how he completely blew out employment with the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Every dark corner is filled with warning tales about employing – or, in New England’s case, re-hiring – McDaniels.
Raiders players are relieved he’s gone, claiming they no longer have to “walk on eggshells.” McDaniels reportedly “lost” the Raiders’ locker room when he elected to start the former Patriots’ backup quarterback in Week 7. Critics also point to the fact that he hired Matt Eberflus as his defensive coordinator in Denver, who is now on the hot seat.
Former Patriots players who won with McDaniels, including as Chris Long, are criticising his tactics in Las Vegas.
But there are also reported stories that have little to do with X’s and O’s and everything to do with McDaniels’ troublesome DNA.
Former Broncos receiver/tight end Nate Jackson claims in a scathing piece that McDaniels:
*Carried an unclean jock strap stolen from Tom Brady’s locker in his pocket. “The one he tossed to anyone who ever questioned his football acumen,” Jackson wrote in a letter. “Smell it,” he would remark. “Do you have any questions?”
*After dismissing veteran quarterback Jay Cutler, Jackson told Broncos players, “Fellas, don’t worry about the quarterback situation,” Jackson writes, “I can turn a high school quarterback into an All-Pro.”
But the most bizarre story from Jackson, who was released by McDaniels after catching 27 receptions and scoring two touchdowns in six seasons in Denver, involves the coach reportedly dealing a player because his wife was drawn to him.
“McDaniels’ ego wasn’t only fragile on the pitch,” Jackson writes. He notably released running back Peyton Hillis because McDaniels believed his wife was drawn to Hillis.”
That last tale has circulated around Denver media circles. But that doesn’t take away from its beauty.
McDaniels’ return to Foxboro to coach quarterback Mac Jones makes sense on some ways. But his once-blinding star has undoubtedly faded.
