Another head coaching opportunity might be available for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels this offseason. The New York Giants have reportedly reached out to McDaniels as a potential candidate for their vacant head coach position after firing Ben McAdoo earlier this week. NBC Sports’s Mike Giardi reports that when asked about his interest in the position in a conference call on Tuesday, McDaniels gave a reserved response:
“I’m just interested in the Dolphins right now. That’s where my focus is at and that’s where it’s going to stay.”
Josh McDaniels has not served as a head coach since 2010 with the Denver Broncos. However, he has been in the running for head coaching positions that have popped up in the past two offseasons. He fielded interest from the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers for their head coach vacancies in the past two years. He shut down each offer, and expressed that he is more than content in New England.
McDaniels has built up a tremendous résumé with the New England Patriots. After his promotion to offensive coordinator in 2005 his work has been instrumental for the team. In 2007, his offense set records after scoring 67 touchdowns on offense. Though he left the Patriots from 2009-2011, he has been present for all five of the team’s Super Bowl wins. Though he is satisfied with his current position on the Patriots, he still longs to be a head coach again. In come the Giants.
An Offer of a Lifetime
The Giants are much different from teams that haven given McDaniels offers in the past. They are at a very interesting point currently after clearing out Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese. This has been a fluke season for the Giants. Injuries to Odell Beckham Jr., upon many others, crippled the team. No one going into this season saw the Giants having a losing record with the intangibles that they have. Injuries and poor coaching from McAdoo destroyed all passion that players had this season. Eli Manning briefly sitting on the bench caused him to realize his mortality in the league. If he decides to leave New York this offseason this could be a very interesting change in the team. The Giants can bounce right back by taking one of the premier quarterbacks this class has to offer.
Josh McDaniels is perfect for this role. He has the potential to do amazing things for the Giants franchise. This is a perfect opportunity to get to head coach one of the marquee franchises in the league. That said, he also could have a head coach role in the future where he is right now.
An Heir to the Dynasty
Though it could be a few years the road from now, Josh McDaniels could potentially receive a promotion. McDaniels has a very good shot at being the successor to the head coaching job in New England once Bill Belichick calls it quits. In a recent take on McDaniels’s future from NESN’s Doug Kyed, he suggests that Josh and director of player personnel Nick Caserio could work together to fill the head coach vacancy. The Patriots are known to promote from within once a position becomes available, so it is very possible that he could take over after Belichick retires.
The current question about that, however, is if he would rather stay in New England or take a current vacancy in New York. The reason why Josh McDaniels has turned down job offers in the past two years may allude to him potentially wanting the head coach job in New England in the post-Belichick era. Only in his 40’s, he could possibly stay with the Patriots for a number of years until Belichick retires. Josh McDaniels’s history in New England could keep him with the team for the long-run, and Patriots fans would love to see him take the reins in years to come.
