"When the New England Patriots officially hired Mike Vrabel as head coach back in January, the focus immediately shifted to the rest of his coaching staff. As expected, Vrabel brought in several key personnel from his previous tenure in Tennessee, including defensive coordinator Terrell Williams and game management coordinator John Streicher. His most questionable hire? That would be Josh McDaniels, a product of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era that the Patriots' new regime appears highly motivated to distance itself from."
"McDaniels might have flamed out (again) as a head coach with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, but his work with young QB Drake Maye and New England's revamped offense through the first quarter of the 2025 regular season has been impossible for fans and critics to ignore. Josh McDaniels has been a difference-maker for the Patriots, who finally have an offensive identity again."
Mike Vrabel assembled a new staff that included Terrell Williams and John Streicher while drawing scrutiny for hiring Josh McDaniels. McDaniels carried Belichick-era associations and a recent failed head-coach stint, yet quickly reshaped New England's offense during the 2025 season. The offense became less predictable, added play-action, and better leveraged Drake Maye's rushing and pocket movement on third downs and in the red zone. McDaniels reduced reliance on designed runs and scrambles, used play-action to move the pocket, protected a young left side of the offensive line, and integrated roster upgrades at tackle and wide receiver.
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