New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been one of the top coordinators in the NFL this season. While he has a somewhat negative reputation as a head coach, things could change for him this offseason.
McDaniels has had two separate stints as an NFL head coach, the first with the Broncos from 2009 to 2010 and the second with the Raiders from 2022 to 2023. However, he never completed a full season with either team, as both Denver and Las Vegas let him go midway through the season.
The silver lining for McDaniels is the impressive performance of second-year quarterback Drake Maye, which could open the door to head coaching opportunities again this offseason.
If teams are looking to hire McDaniels, here are two teams that should pursue him.
New York Giants
The Giants parted ways with head coach Brian Daboll on Nov. 10, and they should seriously consider bringing in McDaniels as his replacement. New York got a firsthand look at McDaniels’ effectiveness with a young quarterback when the Patriots defeated the Giants 33-15 on Monday.
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New York has its own promising quarterback in rookie Jaxson Dart, and given the way McDaniels has mentored Maye this season, he could easily do the same for Dart.
The Giants have several promising young offensive talents, including wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo. Additionally, with a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, they could further enhance their offensive capabilities.
New York should give McDaniels a call to gauge his interest in being the Giants’ head coach.
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Cleveland Browns
The Browns have not dismissed head coach Kevin Stefanski, but there’s a possibility they might do so at the end of the season.
If Cleveland fires Stefanski, hiring McDaniels could be a great option. Hailing from Canton, Ohio, McDaniels also attended John Carroll University, which is just under half an hour away from Cleveland.
The Browns had a significant interest in McDaniels during their coaching search in 2020, but ultimately settled on Stefanski.
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Cleveland could benefit from a coach who grew up in the area. With the Browns likely set to draft a rookie quarterback in the first round this coming April, he could be the one to help transform the offense.