Report: Patriots expected to hire ex-Bill Belichick OC Josh McDaniels for same position under Mike Vrabel

The band getting back together in New England.

Newly hired Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is expected to hire Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator, NFL Network reports.

McDaniels was New England’s offensive coordinator under Bill Belichick for 13 seasons across two stints and an assistant coach under Belichick for five years prior to that. Vrabel played linebacker in New England for eight seasons (2001-08) while McDaniels was on staff.

Vrabel is back in coaching a season removed from being fired by the Tennessee Titans and is looking to a familiar face as he builds his new staff. Vrabel spent the 2024 season as a consultant with the Browns after the Titans fired him last offseason. The Patriots made him the first coach off the market in the current offseason coaching cycle.

Vrabel looks to McDaniels to develop Drake Maye

McDaniels first joined the Patriots as an assistant in 2001 before being promoted to offensive coordinator under Belichick in 2006. He left the Patriots in 2009 to become head coach of the Denver Broncos.

He returned to his role in New England in 2012 after two years with the Broncos and another as the offensive coordinator for the Rams. He remained on Belichick’s staff through the 2021 season, then left to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. He lasted two seasons until the Raiders fired him after the 2023 season. McDaniels was out of coaching in 2024.

Vrabel’s expertise is on the defensive side of the ball, adding weight to his decision at offensive coordinator. McDaniels will be tasked with developing quarterback Drake Maye, who demonstrated substantial upside as a rookie after being selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft.

McDaniels was the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for most of the Tom Brady era in New England, a track record that ultimately proved appealing as the Patriots look to develop their next franchise quarterback.