Patriots’ Josh McDaniels doesn’t rule out future head coaching job

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Patriots’ Josh McDaniels doesn’t rule out future head coaching job

Mark Daniels · MassLive

Tue, Feb 3, 2026 ·

3 min read

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SAN JOSE, Calif. – There’s no denying that Josh McDaniels is a great offensive coordinator.

A six-time champion, McDaniels returned to New England this season, where he finds himself back in the Super Bowl with the Patriots . After helping get the best out of Tom Brady , the coach has played a part in jumpstarting the next chapter in franchise history with quarterback Drake Maye and a rejuvenated Patriots offense.

The success isn’t unusual for McDaniels. The lack of head-coaching interest, however, is.

This offseason, the NFL saw a record number of head-coaching vacancies, with 10 teams seeking new leaders for their organizations. Unlike past years, when McDaniels helped the Patriots reach a Super Bowl, no one came calling for the offensive coordinator.

After two stints as the lead man in Denver and Las Vegas , McDaniels is happy to be back in New England. The question remains for how long the talented, offensive play-caller will remain with the Patriots.

During Monday’s Super Bowl 60 media night, McDaniels didn’t completely close the door when asked if he still aspires to be a head coach.

“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.”

At age 49, McDaniels still has a lot of football life in him.

For Maye and the Patriots, McDaniels’ past failures in Denver and Las Vegas turned into a blessing. That’s been seen before.

After winning three Super Bowls in New England, McDaniels was hired as the Broncos ’ head coach in 2009. He was dismissed the next season after a 3-9 start. McDaniels returned to the Patriots in 2012 after Bill O’Brien left for Penn State. He won three more Super Bowls with the Patriots.

That led him to Las Vegas in 2022. He was dismissed in 2023 after amassing a 9-16 record.

Without McDaniels, the Patriots’ offense wasn’t the same. In 2021, he successfully helped then-rookie Mac Jones and the Patriots’ offense to a playoff season. The next three years saw a dysfunctional offense operated by three different coordinators – Matt Patricia, O’Brien, and Alex Van Pelt.

The Patriots finished 17th in scoring in 2022. They tied for last in 2023. The team finished 30th last season.

The Patriots finished second this season in McDaniels’ return.

“It’s a great sports town, the best in the world,” McDaniels said. “And to me, to have an opportunity to come back and do this, this quickly, you know, we don’t ever put timelines on anything, but it would have been hard to believe that we would have accelerated this quickly to this point.

“But, boy, am I thankful to be a part of it. I’m going to enjoy every aspect of this week.”

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