Patriots News: Matt Patricia to Lions, Josh McDaniels to Colts
Patriots fans should enjoy coordinators, Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels, while they can because both will be gone when the season ends.
Get ready for a new regime under Bill Belichick, Patriots fans, because both defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will be on the move when the season ends.
Reports, from credible sources, have surfaced that Patricia will take the Detroit Lions head coaching job while McDaniels will head to the Indianapolis Colts.
The jobs present a great opportunity for both coaches to leave their mark as head coaches. McDaniels, of course, has already left New England once, to become the Denver Broncos head coach. That stint did not go so well, but it seems like he’ll have more of a chance in Indy. Andrew Luck should return from injury next season and he’s near the top of the list as far as NFL quarterbacks go. McDaniels will also have a reliable backup in former Patriots third-stringer Jacoby Brissett.
In Detroit, Matt Patricia also inherits a good situation with a solid QB in place. Matt Stafford has the tools to help the Lions succeed, and if Patricia can work some magic with that defense it would not be surprising to see them in the playoffs next year. This will be Patricia’s first opportunity as an NFL head coach.
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For now, both remain focused on the Patriots and the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC title. Patricia has remained mum on his dealings with the Lions.
"“I’m really just in the same place as I was last week,” Patricia said on teleconference with reporters. “I went through the process that the NFL allows us to go through, and during the bye week I was able to have the opportunity to talk to a couple teams, which I did. And then I quickly turned my focus to a very good Tennessee team. Now I’m onto a very dangerous Jacksonville team.”"
He has the right idea, as the entire team needs to remain focused on the Jaguars. It’s nice to see a coach so grounded and humble that he simply wants to keep his head down and do his work.
Next: Options to replace McDaniels and Patricia
When the season does end, New England will have to start their search for new coordinators, and they’ll likely promote from within. Brian Flores is a great pick for the defensive coordinator job, but he is also getting attention for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job. Wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea is someone fans should keep an eye on to become the new offensive coordinator. Only time will tell how things play out, but it seems like a virtual lock that both Patricia and McDaniels will be gone in 2018. Buckle up for a new ride Pats fans.