Josh McDaniels is set to return as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots for a third time. This will be a different era, as he won’t be working alongside Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

According to several reports on Tuesday, new head coach Mike Vrabel is bringing McDaniels on board for this position.

This appointment signifies McDaniels’ first move back to the NFL following his dismissal by the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2023 season, which marked his second tenure with that team.

McDaniels, who held discussions with New England on Tuesday, was part of the coaching staff during all six of Brady and Belichick’s Super Bowl victories. His initial run as offensive coordinator spanned from 2006 to 2008 before he became the head coach of the Denver Broncos. After being let go by the Broncos and spending a year as the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams, he returned to the Patriots and served as the play-caller from 2012 to 2021.

Under Vrabel’s leadership, McDaniels will focus on advancing the skills of second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who achieved 2,276 passing yards and threw 15 touchdown passes in his rookie season. The Patriots struggled offensively, ranking in the bottom three for both total yards and scoring in 2024, leading to the firing of first-year coach Jerod Mayo at the end of the season.