Following Bill O’Brien’s departure to Ohio State on Thursday night, Jerod Mayo has the crucial task of finding a new offensive coordinator to help revitalize the Patriots’ offense. As Mayo gears up to start interviewing candidates, he must first decide whether to maintain the current offensive system or introduce new schemes. Here are eight potential candidates for the offensive coordinator position.
If Mayo opts for continuity, Josh McDaniels would be an ideal choice. Not only is he an experienced coach, but he was also the Patriots’ former offensive coordinator and is reportedly at the top of Mayo’s list for the position. However, it remains to be seen whether Bill Belichick and his team will have any say in the matter.
On the other hand, if Mayo decides to take the offense in a new direction, Zac Robinson could be a strong candidate. As the quarterback coach and pass game coordinator for the Rams, Robinson has worked under Sean McVay in Los Angeles and has experience coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers. Additionally, his background as a former quarterback could prove valuable in coaching the Patriots’ future rookie quarterback.
Bengals quarterbacks coach, Dan Pitcher, has been with the team for his entire professional coaching career. He started as an offensive assistant in 2016, primarily working with wide receivers, but began focusing more on quarterbacks in 2018. He was promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach and then to quarterbacks coach in the 2020 season. Pitcher’s work with Joe Burrow has led to him being considered for offensive coordinator positions.
Dolphins wide receivers coach, Wes Welker, has spent most of his coaching career in the Shanahan coaching tree. He worked under Kyle Shanahan from 2019-2021 as the 49ers’ wide receivers coach before following Mike McDaniel to Miami in 2022 to hold the same position. Although his departure from the New England Patriots wasn’t amicable with former head coach Bill Belichick, it’s unclear what his relationship with owner Robert Kraft is like. Like Caley, Welker has no experience working directly with quarterbacks.
