The only team connected to Josh McDaniels during this year’s HC hiring period, the Raiders are interested in speaking with the longtime Patriots offensive coordinator.
They sent McDaniels an interview request Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Raiders already interviewed Patriots exec Dave Ziegler, who also worked with McDaniels in Denver, and appear to still be considering a Patriots West ticket. McDaniels, who has been on Mark Davis‘ radar for weeks, is expected to interview Saturday, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter links).
While a Wednesday report indicated the Raiders were moving away from a Ziegler-McDaniels pairing, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets league buzz still points to McDaniels being a preferred option in Las Vegas. This would certainly be an interesting direction to go, given McDaniels’ past and Raider players’ endorsements for interim HC Rich Bisaccia to keep the job. That said, one source informed Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio a Ziegler-McDaniels power structure in Vegas is “just about a sure thing.” McDaniels has been down a similar road before, only to turn back at the last minute.
But McDaniels does have an extensive OC resume, collecting three Super Bowl rings during his time working with Tom Brady in New England. Of course, his rough tenure as Broncos HC and decision to spurn the Colts affected his standing within the league. In terms of high-level experience, however, almost no one in this cycle can match McDaniels.
In his 10th year back in charge of the Patriots’ offense, McDaniels helped the fifth quarterback picked in last year’s draft — Mac Jones — have the best season among the 2021 rookie QBs. Despite his controversial Colts decision four years ago, the 45-year-old assistant comes up in coaching rumors annually. The two-time Patriots OC has been picky on the interview front, and given his Denver tenure and Indianapolis decision, his next HC job might be his last.
Here is how the Raiders’ HC search is shaping up thus far:
- Rich Bisaccia, interim head coach (Raiders): Interviewed 1/19
- Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator (Buccaneers): To interview 1/28
- Jim Harbaugh, former head coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate; early frontrunner?
- Jerod Mayo, linebackers coach (Patriots): Interviewed 1/25
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interview requested
- DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview expected
Hopefully McDaniels realizes that this is his best shot in a long time . . .
If he turned down the Colts, who already had a well-rounded roster to take over, why in the world would he want to coach the Raiders?
The 2018 colts were coming off a 4-12 record. The Raiders are coming off a playoff appearance. They have areas they need to upgrade, but have a ton of talent.
Ugh! I don’t want this guy coaching the Raiders. I’ve been hoping this was all just rumors. He quit on Indy and I just don’t see where this dude is a leader.
I’m not opposed to this if he’s learned his lessons. It’s also reassuring to see that he’d take an interview with the raiders.
Belichick will snap his bra strap any minute now.
All Broncos fans think it would be great if the Raiders hired McDaniels as their HC.
Time of the year for the boring Josh McDaniels rumors. Who cares?
But funny thing no one care for him. Since this is the only team that interested. Not like we are hearing his name left and right
I’m a Patriots fan. Vegas can have that guy!
FU(K…..
McDaniels doesn’t have the people skills to be a HC. Don’t forget his tenure in Denver began with him not being able to work with the team’s two best offensive players (Cutler and Marshall) – both of whom were soon gone.
Ultimately nobody wanted to play for him.
I agree, and his brief ‘stint’ with Indianapolis doesn’t bode well for confidence either. For all his accolades, I’d still want to see him work in a different system besides the Patriots before giving him a consideration at HC.
He’s proven that he has difficulty with change outside a common area for hiring HCs.
Please take him!!!! Josh McFanless!!!
I think the Raiders would be making a huge mistake and all the Patriot fans would be jumping for joy because their next coach wouldn’t be Josh McDaniels.
McDaniels is the most overrated OC in the NFL. When he doesn’t have Tom Brady around he flounders. In Denver and St Louis he was a disaster. When you combine that with how he treated Indy, no self respecting team should bother talking to the clown.