Colts Head Coaching Search Wish List: Josh McDaniels
By Andrew Ites
Josh McDaniels may be the hottest young coach looking for a head coaching job this offseason. Will the Colts take a look at the Patriots’ play-caller if the job opens up?
Résumé
Josh McDaniels began his coaching career as a graduate assistant on Nick Saban’s staff at Michigan State in 1999. Saban must have let his former colleague Bill Belichick know that McDaniels was an up-and-coming coach because Belichick hired McDaniels on his first coaching staff in New England the following year.
McDaniels worked his way up with the Patriots beginning as a personnel assistant, then a defensive assistant, then he became the quarterbacks coach in 2004. After being Tom Brady’s quarterback coach for two critical years of his development, McDaniels was promoted to offensive coordinator while keeping his job as quarterbacks coach.
McDaniels’ first stint as New England’s offensive coordinator lasted from 2006 to 2008 before Denver hired him as the head coach of the Broncos in 2009.
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He only lasted two seasons in Denver going 8-8 in his first year and 3-9 in 2010 before he was fired.
He spent one season in St. Louis as offensive coordinator under Steve Spagnuolo before returning to New England as offensive coordinator in 2012.
He’s been a member of five Super Bowl teams with six AFC championships during his career making him more than qualified for a second chance as a head coach.
McDaniels’ Fit with the Colts
McDaniels has a great job in New England, which is why he hasn’t even considered job offers from some of the league’s lesser teams. He would only leave the Patriots for the perfect situation, and Indianapolis is about as close as you can get.
The Colts have a proven franchise quarterback in place, although he does have injury issues, and Chris Ballard looks like one of the league’s better young general managers.
If McDaniels has indeed learned from his first head coaching job, he has the potential to be a really special coach in this league.
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Here are a few other candidates the Colts could potentially consider this offseason: