Familiar face to interview for Patriots OC gig

For a second straight year, Nick Caley is set to interview for the Patriots’ offensive coordinator post. A failure to land this gig in 2023 led Caley to the Rams, but with Bill O’Brien returning to the college ranks, the job is open again.

Jerod Mayo still has the former Patriots assistant on his radar, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicating Caley will interview for the position on Monday. Caley spent this season as the Rams’ tight ends coach, the same title he held in New England previously. O’Brien became OC at Ohio State this week; he was far from certain to stay on with the Patriots under Mayo.

Caley coached Pats tight ends from 2017-22 and spent eight years in New England, arriving back in 2015. This timing gave Caley two Super Bowl rings and provided him an opportunity to work with Rob Gronkowski during his final years with the team. The Patriots’ view of Caley back in 2022 led to a responsibility increase following Josh McDaniels‘ Las Vegas exit, but they passed on him for O’Brien — a staffer Robert Kraft helped bring back to Foxborough.

Both the Jets and Texans also met with Caley about their OC post last year as well, but each team went with familiarity. The Jets were able to convince Aaron Rodgers to put off retirement by hiring Nathaniel Hackett, a move that led Mike LaFleur to Los Angeles, and DeMeco Ryans brought ex-49ers assistant Bobby Slowik with him to Houston. Slowik’s performance in his first season calling plays could well open the Houston OC gig once again, as HC interest has come his way.

This would be a major opportunity for Caley, who is the Pats’ first known OC interview during this cycle. With O’Brien leaving, the team will feature a different play-caller for a fourth straight season.