New England Patriots: 5 viable offensive coordinators for 2023
By Colin Lynch
Options from inside the Bill Belichick coaching tree: Nick Caley
Nick Caley is the current Tigh Ends coach for the New England Patriots. The most apparent reason Belichick may consider him is that he’s been in the building for the past eight seasons.
It’s hard to tell how much influence, if any, he’s been able to have on the 2022 Patriots offense, but the thought of promoting from inside the building sours when you consider just how brutal this season has been. But even before this season, Caley has seen his name on future NFL head coaching lists.
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Belichick clearly likes him if he has been on the staff for the past eight seasons. If he wants to keep him in the building, a promotion to offensive coordinator may need to happen.
Mick Lombardi
For being just 33 years old, Lombardi has had an impressive track record as a professional football coach. He originally started with the New England Patriots in 2011 as a scouting assistant.
In 2013 he was named as an assistant to the head coach for Jim Harbaugh on the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff. After a two-year stint where he served with the Jets as an offensive assistant and an assistant quarterbacks coach, Lombardi made his way back to New England in 2019.
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In 2020, Belichick promoted Lombardi to wide receivers coach. In 2022, after being named the Raiders head coach, Josh McDaniels hired Lombardi to be the Raider’s offensive coordinator. While Lombardi has the title in Las Vegas, McDaniels is still the play caller, so Lombardi’s role is limited. Belichick may be inclined to get Lombardi back by offering full-time play-calling duties in 2023.
He’s someone that understands how things work in New England and clearly has a bright future as an NFL coach ahead of him.