THE New England Patriots have made a big appointment by reuniting with a franchise favorite.
New head coach Mike Vrabel has moved to appoint an offensive coordinator who’s had success in New England before.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Josh McDaniels will return to the franchise.
McDaniels is a highly-regarded member of the Patriots dynasty and enjoyed incredible success with the team.
He started as a personal assistant in 2001 and worked his way up to being offensive coordinator from 2006 to 2008.
The 48-year-old was part of the coaching staff when new Patriots leader Vrabel won three Super Bowls as a player.
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McDaniels then had a spell as Denver Broncos head coach and St Louis Rams offensive coordinator.
He returned to New England in 2012 to continue his relationship with coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.
The team won three more Super Bowls in McDaniels’ second spell before he left in 2021.
The Brady and Belichick era in New England ended soon after.
McDaniels had a two-year spell as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
But he had just a 9-16 record before being fired by the team which Brady went on to become a part owner of.
McDaniels will be offensive coordinator to young quarterback Drake Maye at the Patriots.
“I think he’s young, talented, willing to learn and I think there’s a toughness to him,” Vrabel said about Maye when he was unveiled as new head coach.
“There’s an amazing skillset in which to mold and to have him lead our football team and lead our offense.
“There’s arm talent. There’s athleticism. Certainly, we have to be great around him and we’re going to continue to push him as much as he lets us.
“My involvement will be as it relates to game management and situational awareness, where we are on the football field, and trying to develop him as a leader of the offense.
“Drake is going to be his own person, but I’m going to give him some things that I feel like are necessary to win football games.”
Head coach Vrabel has yet to make a decision on the team’s defensive coordinator.
New England finished 4-13 in 2024 which led to Jerod Mayo being fired after one year in charge.
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It was the second straight year they ended up with just four wins and third in a row with a losing record.
The Patriots will have the fourth pick in this year’s draft behind the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.