With McDaniels and Patricia Likely Out of New England, Who Fills In?
January 17, 2018
There is no question the Patriots have their minds focused on the AFC Championship game vs Jacksonville, but they may have to set some of their attention toward the future. There have been reports that both Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels and Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia already have their new landing spots and are ready to take over as a head coach. Josh McDaniels is the likely HC for the Indianapolis Colts, giving him the opportunity to work with both Andrew Luck and former New England Patriot Jacoby Brissett. Matt Patricia will likely take his talents to Detroit to coach the Lions. McDaniels has had experience as a HC before, coaching the Denver Broncos from 2009-2010, but this will be Matt Patricia’s first experience as a HC. While it is great for those two guys to continue their careers, the Patriots will have to fill both those spots for next year and that is something that a team doesn’t generally go through. Here are the possible candidates to fill the two coordinator spots that will be open come February:
Offensive Coordinator
Chad O’Shea
Coaching Career 1996-Present
Chiefs 2003-05 (Assistant Special Teams)
Vikings 2006-08 (Offensive Assistant and Wide Receivers Coach)
Patriots 2009-Present (Wide Receivers Coach)
Chad O’Shea is one of the top candidates to take the OC job. Bill Belichick has preferred to do in-house hires up for coaches, and for a guy who has been with the team since 2009 as a WR coach, it is likely that he gets the promotion.
George Godsey
Coaching Career 2004-Present
Patriots 2011-13 (Offensive Assistant and Tight Ends Coach)
Texans 2014-16
2014 (Quarterbacks Coach)
2015-16 (Offensive Coordinator)
Lions 2017-Present (Defensive Assistant and Special Projects)
George Godsey has had experience doing lots of different things, and he also has Patriot ties, which gets him in the conversation. While it was short lived, he did spend some time as an OC, and with the proper help from Bill and the Patriots staff he could be the next OC in Foxborough.
Ivan Fears
Coaching Career 1976-Present
Patriots 1991-92 (Wide Receivers Coach)
Bears 1993-98 (Wide Receivers Coach)
Patriots 1999-Present
1999-01 (Wide Receivers Coach)
2002-Present (Running Backs Coach)
Fears has been one of the longest tenured coaches on the Patriots staff. While it would seem unlikely for him to leave his spot as the Running Backs coach, there is a possibility. He has been apart of all championship teams in New England and could be the next possible target for the OC.
SURPRISE CANDIDATE
Jerry Schuplinski
Coaching Career 2000-Present
Patriots 2013-Present
2013-15 (Offensive Assistant)
2016-Present (Assistant Quarterbacks Coach)
While Schuplinski is more of a surprise candidate for the OC job, he is not to be overlooked. He has worked closely with current OC Josh McDaniels as the Assistant QB Coach and as an Offensive Assistant since joining New England. He would most likely take over as the Quarterbacks Coach and possibly the Offensive Coordinator spot as well.
Defensive Coordinator
Brian Flores
Coaching Career 2004-Present
Patriots 2004-Present
2004-05 (Scouting Assistant)
2006-07 (Pro Scout)
2008-09 (Special Teams Assistant)
2010 (Offensive Assistant and Special Teams Assistant)
2011 (Defensive Assistant)
2012-15 (Safeties Coach)
2016-Present (Linebackers Coach)
Flores has had an extensive career in New England moving around to pretty much every position possible. He has worked on all sides of the ball and since 2011 has been a Defensively focused coach. He has had interviews for HC positions around the league but nothing extremely serious. He is currently the Linebackers coach, which is generally the last step before becoming DC in New England, so he is the most likely candidate for the job.
Greg Schiano
Coaching Career 1988-Present
Bears 1996-98
1996-97 (Defensive Assistant)
1998 (Defensive Backs Coach)
Univ. of Miami 1999-2000 (Defensive Coordinator)
Rutgers 2001-2011 (Head Coach)
Buccaneers 2012-2013 (Head Coach)
Ohio State Univ. 2016-Present (Defensive Coordinator and Assistant HC)
Schiano has not had any previous ties to New England but was a long time Head Coach at Rutgers which is one of Belichick’s favorite colleges to draft players from. He has picked up defensive backs Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon from Rutgers and I am sure both Schiano and Belichick have the same defensive mindset. Do not underlook Schiano.
Stephen Belichick
Coaching Career 2012-present
Patriots 2012-Present
2012-2015 (Defensive Assistant)
2016-Present (Safeties Coach)
That’s right the son of HC Bill Belichick does exist in the Patriots system and is on the defensive side of the ball. Stephen played football and lacrosse for Rutgers and has worked with the Patriots since 2012. While he still has a little ways to go it is of course possible that it is Stephen rises up and takes on the Defensive Coordinator position in New England.
SURPRISE CANDIDATE
Rodney Harrison
Playing Career 1994-2008 (Safety)
Chargers 1994-2002
Patriots 2003-2008
Harrison is a more likely candidate than most think. He currently is an analyst on Sunday Night Football and is constantly around the game of football. He was an outstanding player in the NFL and has a very high football IQ. If he had the interest, I am sure the Harrison could have a unique shot at becoming the new DC.
Written by Nick Kazandjian
