Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels wins NFL Assistant Coach of the Year

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Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels wins NFL Assistant Coach of the Year

Chris Mason · MassLive

Fri, Feb 6, 2026 ·

2 min read

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SAN FRANCISCO — An excellent season for Josh McDaniels has been rewarded with the NFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

The Patriots offensive coordinator won the honor on Thursday night in San Francisco, but wasn’t on hand to attend, as he was too busy preparing for Super Bowl 60.

After taking a year off following his firing as Raiders head coach, McDaniels returned to New England for a third stint with the Patriots .

Thus far, it couldn’t have gone much better.

Under McDaniels’ stewardship, Drake Maye blossomed into an MVP finalist and the Patriots owned the AFC’s best offense in both scoring (28.8 points per game) and total yardage (379.4). New England has gone 17-3, and now they’re one win away from capturing the Lombardi Trophy, which would be McDaniels’ seventh.

On Thursday morning, Mike Vrabel said he believed McDaniels would be a deserving recipient of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

“Josh has done a fantastic job,” Vrabel said, “and usually any coach’s success or recognition is going to come from the fact that the players executed, they played well and they did what was coached. And sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn’t, but I would be extremely excited and happy for Josh if he were to win.”

Asked if he’d ever want to be a head coach again during Super Bowl Opening Night, the 49-year-old McDaniels said he was just glad to be where his feet are right now.

“Every day’s one day at a time for me now. You know what I mean?” McDaniels said. “And I think I’m where I’m supposed to be. And I’m incredibly happy to be here and doing what I’m doing. I love my job. I love the role that I have. I love the group that I’m with. So whatever that plan is down the road, we’ll figure that out. But I couldn’t be more happy with where I’m at.”

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