Two-time SB champion reunites with Josh McDaniels on Raiders staff

The Raiders ranked last in yards per punt return (5.8) and 26th in yards per kick return (20.9) in 2022. They had the third-fewest punt return yards (156), were one of only three teams without a punt return of 20 or more yards and were one of six teams without a kick return of 35 yards or longer.

Amendola spent five seasons with the Patriots while McDaniels was the team’s offensive coordinator. He caught 230 passes for 2,382 yards and 12 touchdowns during that time while returning 34 kickoffs for 799 yards (23.5 yards per return) and 85 punts for 773 yards (9.1 yards per return)—leading the NFL in punt return average in 2015.

The 37-year-old Amendola retired following the 2021 season, which he spent with the Houston Texans, catching 24 passes for 248 yards and three scores. He also spent two years with the Detroit Lions, a one-year stint with the Miami Dolphins, and he spent the first four years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams.

It’s not the first time McDaniels, who’s heading into his second season as the head coach of the Raiders, has filled out his coaching staff with familiar faces from New England. 

Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi spent a year with the Patriots as an assistant quarterbacks coach (2019) then two as a wide receivers coach (2020-21), quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree was a Pats offensive assistant in 2021 and senior defensive assistant Rob Ryan was the Patriots linebackers coach from 2000 to 2003.