Patriots' OC job among NFL's least desired openings

New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo and owner Robert Kraft. Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots' offensive coordinator job reportedly among NFL's least desired openings

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 1/31/24

The New England Patriots have expressed interest in as many as 11 candidates for their offensive coordinator job, but they’re no closer to actually hiring someone than they were the day former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien bolted to Ohio State.

According to Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal, it may be a long wait before New England finally finds a candidate willing to accept the job.

“I can’t stress enough how little buzz the Pats’ offensive coordinator search has generated leaguewide,” Giardi wrote. “Talking to league sources, there’s a lot of hemming and hawing about the quality of the position.”

Per Giardi, the perception around the league is that Mac Jones is too big of a liability, and sources have said the Patriots don’t even know what their offensive identity will be under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, which isn’t something many are willing to sign up for.

"Nobody as any clue what they're doing at offensive coordinator"@GregABedard joins @FelgerAndMazz from the Senior Bowl to share what he's hearing about the #Patriots from teams around the NFL pic.twitter.com/CChsSetaAB
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) January 30, 2024

An anonymous source told Giardi, "Their best playmaker is a sixth-round Lilliputian (DeMario "Pop" Douglas). Sure; where do I sign up?"

Another added: "The job looks worse on paper than it did a year ago when Billy (O’Brien) took over. The QB (Jones) can’t play. … It could be rough if they don’t hit a home run in the draft."

Several of Mayo’s reported OC targets have already found new roles with other teams including Shane Waldron (Chicago Bears offensive coordinator), Thomas Brown (Bears passing game coordinator), Zac Robinson (Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator), Dan Pitcher (Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator) and Jerrod Johnson (Houston Texans quarterbacks coach).

Others still in the running include the presumed front-runner Nick Caley (Los Angeles Rams tight end coach), Klint Kubiak (San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator), Brian Fleury (49ers tight ends coach), Scott Turner (Las Vegas Raiders passing game coordinator), Tanner Engstrand (Detroit Lions passing game coordinator) and Luke Getsy (former Bears offensive coordinator).

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