Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Twitter link) that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is expected to become the Colts’ next head coach. McDaniels has reportedly told his potential assistants to wait for him, and Rapoport’s sources believe McDaniels is Indianapolis-bound once New England’s season is over.
Just yesterday, we learned that McDaniels and former Patriots linebacker (and current Texans DC) Mike Vrabel were the finalists for the Colts’ head coaching job. But McDaniels has seemed like the favorite for awhile now, especially given ownership’s desire for something of a splashy hire.
McDaniels compiled an underwhelming 11-17 record during his two-year stint as head coach of the Broncos, but he has more than restored his viability as a head coach since returning to New England. The Patriots’ offense has ranked in the top-10 in points scored during each of his nine years as the Pats’ OC, and McDaniels’ unit put up yet another impressive showing in the team’s divisional round win over Tennessee last night.
McDaniels, of course, has had the privilege of working with Tom Brady during his New England career, and he will inherit another excellent signal-caller in Andrew Luck should he take the Colts’ job. Luck’s health, though, will continue to be a major topic of discussion this offseason, and it was rumored that his shoulder injury may scare off top head coaching candidates. Luckily for Indianapolis, that does not appear to be the case.
As we learned several days ago, Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus — who is currently a free agent — is McDaniels’ top choice for defensive coordinator, per Rapoport (via Twitter).
Pats Nation is gonna miss you man helped out alot but I think you’ll Thrive in Indianapolis if Andrew Luck can get Happy
Hate to see him leave New England.
The NFL’s version of Lane Kiffin. He’ll be fired in 2 years, tops.
Lol…not too far off
Idts, luck is a good. He had Tebow in Denver and tried to do too much. McDaniels will be fine in Indy
He hand picked Tebow idiot! He was the only team in the league willing to draft him as a QB. Not to mention he traded Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton after Cutler was first team All Pro.
Pro bowl. Not all pro.
Another QB, two 1st rounders and a 3rd is not a bad haul at all for a guy that never was considered a great locker room guy. He was paid All Pro money but never saw a Pro Bowl in Chicago.
The way he came in to Denver; a brash, arrogant, know it all is why I compared McDaniels to Kiffin. He ran Denver into the ground just like Kiffin did USC. Say what you want about Cutler, my comments aren’t really about what he was or wasn’t, my point is this guy traded a pro bowl qb to draft Tebow. He absolutely set Denver back years and because he went back to New England and worked with Brady and Gronk he is getting way too high praise.
I get what you’re saying and I think you’re right about the Denver situation, he was arrogant and the Tebow thing continues to befuddled me. However he did go learn from a master for the past 9 years and I doubt that he’ll have the same authority to move Luck like he did Cutler, first off Luck is a better QB then Cutler, second Indy ushered a legend out the door for Luck and those guys usually get a lot of rope. Also Cutler kind of forced his way out as well, basically what I’m saying is that if he keeps his ego in check and Luck stays healthy McDaniels is setup to succeed, but if he goes into it the same way he did Denver then it will just be history repeating itself.
Not the first coach to start out arrogant and then get humbled, hopefully he learned his lesson and becomes successful in Part II.
Hey, you could argue that trading Cutler and drafting Tebow worked out with Denver eventually winning a Super Bowl. Some of those guys they drafted never get drafted by the Broncos if Tebow doesn’t end up being bad/Cutler isn’t traded away. While anything could happen, its doubtful that Denver would end up with the #2 pick (who they used to draft Von Miller) if they had Cutler as the QB.
Somebody would’ve drafted Tebow as a QB. Nobody else would’ve taken him first round though.
Nor would they have slotted him #1
Called this. I think it’s a great fit.
You did not call anything
Congrats to McDaniels. Wonder who the token interviews will be before this hiring is announced and then criticized for not following the protocol?
They interviewed Steve Wilks. Shut up about the Rooney Rule.
The Tebow thing was about religion, should be no mystery there. McD a pretty devout guy. It’s the same reason every Tebow defender gives. Not making a judgment just explaining why McD loves him so much.