A year ago, the Patriots didn't have much of a backup plan if Josh McDaniels got his second head coaching job.
Thanks to fortuitous circumstances — that may or may not have been manipulated by Belichick — he didn't have to worry about that for the 2020 season. To make sure he had options if the same situation arose for 2021, Belichick added the well-traveled Jedd Fisch to the coaching staff.
Those plans went up in smoke when Fisch on Wednesday was named head coach at the University of Arizona.
"Jedd Fisch is one of the most outstanding coaches I have worked with and was an excellent addition to our staff this year," Belichick told the school. "Jedd has gained a wealth of experience in numerous organizations, in college and the NFL, and is ready to lead the Arizona program. Although we will miss his contributions here, we wish Jedd and Amber well at the University of Arizona, home to two of the greatest Patriots, Tedy Bruschi and Rob Gronkowski, as well as our current Wildcats, Nick Folk and J.J. Taylor."
"I think he can do really well there," Folk told reporters. "I think he's got a lot of support from a bunch of alumni. So I hope to get back at some point whenever I get a chance to get back. And hopefully, we're getting some big wins with Jedd as a head coach.
With McDaniels expected to be in the mix for coaching jobs with the Jaguars and Falcons — possibly the Lions and Texans as well — and with the Chargers, Bears and Jets should they open up after the season, the Patriots could be back in the same spot they were a year ago: in a tough spot if McDaniels leaves.
Why?
Since he succeeded Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator, McDaniels has basically run the offense by himself as Belichick has spent most of his attention with the defense since Matt Patricia left for Detroit. Belichick certainly points the gameplans in certain directions and has oversight, but McDaniels and the offensive coaches put everything together and execute it on gameday.
To recap what happened last year, and how McDaniels didn't even get to interview for the two best jobs, the Panthers and Giants (that went to fellow Patriots assistant Joe Judge), and was only left with the Browns as an option that was never going to work because McDaniels has his beliefs on how an organization should be structured, and it was not going to align with the people Cleveland had in place:
- Despite having lined up interviews for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday initially after the Patriots’ playoff exit, McDaniels wasn’t allowed to talk to a team until Tuesday for the first time. But by that time, the Panthers hired Matt Rhule and the Giants grabbed Judge.
- As is customary for the Patriots, Belichick wanted the season buttoned up before his assistants went off and talked to other teams. But Judge talked with his alma mater, Mississippi State, on Sunday via phone, got an offer from them but wanted to hear out the Giants on Monday and asked Belichick if he could do that. Belichick gave his blessing and a huge recommendation to the Giants' owners, who respect the former Giants defensive coordinator immensely.
- At the same time, the Panthers had interviewed Rhule and did not want him to get on a plane to the Giants (agents are good at playing the leverage game).
- Meanwhile, McDaniels had little clue any of this was going on as he reviewed the season with the other assistants;
- The Giants didn't want to wait for McDaniels, lose Judge to Mississippi State and then be left without any of their top candidates should McDaniels not want the job. The Panthers didn't want to lose Rhule to the Giants, so they didn't let him leave the building.
- Basically, McDaniels got screwed. Now, was it malicious — because Belichick would rather lose anyone but his offensive coordinator with no backup plan in place — or just circumstances with bad timing? Only Belichick knows for sure.
Should McDaniels — thanks to the Patriots being eliminated, he'll be free to be on every first round of interviews (they can start now via Zoom if Belichick gives his blessing — get a head coaching job that he is ready to take, what are the Patriots' options?
INTERNAL
Mick Lombardi, after being the receivers and QBs coach the past two seasons, would be the only real internal candidate. Nick Caley and Troy Brown are even greener. Promoting Lombardi could work if Belichick brought back Patricia to run the defense, and Belichick was freed up to be the de facto offensive coordinator.
There are rumors that Lombardi could become Fisch's offensive coordinator with the Wildcats.
There are no other internal options, and that wouldn't be optimal since the offense has advanced well beyond what Belichick handled at times after Charlie Weis left for Notre Dame.
OUTSIDE CANDIDATES
Bill O'Brien, obviously, is available after his firing in Houston. He still has a strong relationship with Belichick, and significant ties to the area. But it's possible O'Brien would go with McDaniels to be his assistant head coach/offensive coordinator. The two spoke almost daily when O'Brien was in Houston. O'Brien also wishes to be a head coach again and will likely get interviews this round.
George Godsey, is the tight ends coach with the Dolphins and former Patriots assistant (2012-13), but he is basically the QBs coach, as he was with the Lions from 2017-18. Before that, he was O'Brien's offensive coordinator with the Texans where I learned firsthand that he has an intimate knowledge of the Patriots' scheme, and was gameplanner and playcaller. He would be the most plug-and-play person.
Chad O'Shea, the Patriots' receivers coach from 2009-18, is in his first year as the Browns' pass game coordinator/receivers coach. He installed the Patriots' offensive system with Miami for Brian Flores before being let go because the team wanted a less complicated offense for a young QB. Beat the Patriots in Week 17 in 2019.
Charlie Weis, the OG OC for the Patriots will be 65 in March, but two years ago there were reports that he wanted to be an NFL offensive coordinator. He would be especially helpful if the Patriots went with a younger internal coach without the title.