Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has rejected the Colts head coaching job and will instead remain in New England, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
It’s a stunning reversal by McDaniels, whom the Colts officially announced as their new head coach earlier today. Although there had been increasing chatter that McDaniels could bail on Indianapolis, the team’s official press release seemed to put those rumors to bed. Instead, McDaniels has opted not to take the job, leaving the Colts to restart their search process.
McDaniels had been viewed as one of the preeminent head coaching candidates of the 2018 cycle, and the Colts had reportedly agreed to hire him as their next head coach as far back as January 14. Indianapolis stopped interviewing other contenders for the job, McDaniels stopped taking meetings with other clubs, and the hunt had seemed to be over. Indeed, McDaniels had even begun hiring a staff.
However, Patriots owner Robert Kraft began “sweetening” McDaniels’ New England contract over the past 48 hours as part of an effort to keep the offensive play-caller in tow, tweets Schefter. Family concerns also played into McDaniels’ decision, as did “clarity” over head coach Bill Belichick‘s future, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link). While Belichick is returning for the 2018 campaign, that report could indicate McDaniels has been told when Belichick will retire.
For the Colts and general manager Chris Ballard, it’s back to the drawing board. Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub has been viewed as a possible contingency plan for the club, especially given that he and Ballard worked together in Kansas City. Toub never actually interviewed for the Indianapolis job the first time around, and nearly every other candidate who did meet with Ballard & Co. is now employed. Baylor head coach Matt Rhule is the only original contender who hasn’t accepted a new position, and withdrew his name from the Colts’ search after one interview.
It’s unclear what McDaniels’ decision means for those coaches who had agreed to join his staff, but they’re now in-limbo and likely staring at unemployment. Coaches such as Matt Eberflus (who was set to become Indy’s defensive coordinator) and Dave DeGuglielmo (offensive line) are now without jobs. Most positions around the NFL have already been filled, leaving these coaches with limited options going forward.
Now that McDaniels has rejected a job for which he’d already been formally announced, he’ll likely be a hard sell for other vacancies in the future. As such, it’s difficult to imagine that McDaniels hasn’t been told that he’ll be Belichick’s successor.
I *KNEW* IT!
Wow! Way to burn some bridges
Only thing I can think of is if he knows the HC job is his soon. The guy told the Colts he was taking the job and had them filling out their staff. What a joke.
You do what’s best for you at the end of the day right? Why would you give up taking over In time the greatest NFL dynasty to have ever played vs a shit team with a qb who might not have much a career left. Put yourself in his shoes you idiot. You willing to take less money? And know your going to a failing company vs stay where your at get a pause raise and job security? Your ignorance alone is enough to ban you from this website.
If he told the Colts he’d take the job, then he’s gotta stick to his word at the end of the day.
I wouldn’t go so far as calling them the greatest ever but obviously passing up an NFL Dynasty like the Colts for the shit show in NE is about money and the old men soon to retire. The cliff is steep and both Belichick and Brady have a year before the Pats slink back into oblivion. People forget the best attribute and key to the success in NE is Brady doesn’t take a huge salary so they field better teams. You just can’t find that kind of unselfishness to take less money for the team these days. 2020 it will be NE who?
Gotta do what you gotta do. His next head coaching opportunity will be his last if he’s not successful. He’ll be a career coordinator if he takes on a crappy opportunity like the Colts job. He’s much better off being BB’s successor, and being handed the keys to a Lamborghini rather than a Volvo.
Will the Pats be a Lamborghini after B.B. and TB12 leave?
Bill will bolt along with Brady hanging them up, that Lamborghini will be every bit the Volvo Indianapolis got once Peyton left.
When Peyton left they had drafted Luck. Would hardly call Luck a Volvo.
BB is leaving.
Nice, largeunit.
Actually it is the only logical answer. Good offense with star qb. Defense that needs work though. Only reason i can think is New England hire him
Connect the dots…la, la, la, la…
Stop talking outta your ass right now please.
Wow sportsfan101 you sound like an angry man. Still pissed you lost the SB? Now you will comeback with we were there you were watching or some dumb statement. Which I could care less you still seem angry and I understand it is all a game.
BB isn’t leaving in 2018. or 2019.
2020 will be his retirement year.
Impressive josh. 8 hours as the coach of the colts. Almost beat belichek. Welcome back
Because B.B. is dust in the wind.
Ok what the f**k just happend
Smh how do the Colts announce the move without being 100 percent
Because they’re the Colts. Colts gon’ Colts.
Reminds me of a couple of weeks ago when I was in Hawaii and the incoming ballistic missile attack came only to be followed 44 minutes later by a “just kidding” message.
This only make logical sense if Bill Belichick retires
Sounds like New England won’t have to worry about the Rooney Rule when B.B. retires, successor is already in the staff.
Because you don’t decline a head coaching job at this stage of your career unless the coach of your current leaves
Team
I’m sure he’s in line to replace Bill. May be a year or 2, but he’s been given the promise. And who would you rather work for — Kraft or Irsay? No brainer.
Future Pats HC
HCIW
Not at all surprised go to the article 8 hours ago and I said he should bail on Indy
Keep Irsay away from the jack Daniels and Vicodin
Pats beat the Colts again, lmao only thing that’d make this better is if it happened to the Giants or Steelers
How did that game work out for you on Sunday?
What a scumbag they way he accepted the Colts job then reneged
He learned from the best… it’s what Belichick did.
Yeah. Yeah, man. You’re right.
And the next head coach in waiting and subsequent Rooney Rule violation has surfaced…
DeFillippo
Would be a great hire for them
No patriots fan can complain about this, BB is a defensive coach Brady has excelled with mcdanials. I give BB/Brady 3-5 more years then mcdanials takes over and we trade up and draft a top qb. The future is starting to show for ne!
I think the real winner is the Colts because McDaniel has only shown that he can run a team into the ground. Even if he succeeds in NE he still will be a Barry Switzer.
What a classless move.
So what happens to all the guys that left their teams to evidently join the colts and McDaniels? Guess he screwed them too.
This is such a dumb move. This is why you wait until the season is over.
I love this so much! The only thing better would be to do the same thing to the Ravens!
Lol what a a-hole. He better get Bellicheat’s job or he gonna regret this move.
Ha … Bellicheat … I see what you did there! Idiot, try best F’ing coach ever!!!! You and idiot fans like you expose your fan bases as the cry baby snowflakes you all are, no way they could have beat us, they have to be cheating! No your teams are run by idiots and the just suck!!
*they
I wouldn’t go so far as calling them the greatest ever but obviously passing up an NFL Dynasty like the Colts for the shit show in NE is about money and the old men soon to retire. The cliff is steep and both Belichick and Brady have a year before the Pats slink back into oblivion. People forget the best attribute and key to the success in NE is Brady doesn’t take a huge salary so they field better teams. You just can’t find that kind of unselfishness to take less money for the team these days. 2020 it will be NE who?