The New England Patriots might be one step closer toward bringing back an old friend to run the offense.
Bill O’Brien, who was New England’s play-caller more than a decade ago, has interviewed for the team’s vacant offensive coordinator position, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday.
O’Brien, 53, has spent the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator at University of Alabama under Nick Saban, with O’Brien’s two-year contract with the Crimson Tide reportedly ending after their Sugar Bowl victory. He took the job after his run as Houston Texans head coach and general manager ended early in the 2020 season after O’Brien amassed a regular-season record of 52-48 and a playoff mark of 2-4 in Houston.
O’Brien appears to be the favorite for the Patriots’ job. Others reportedly interviewing for the spot include Vikings receivers coach Keenan McCardell, Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley, Cardinals associate head coach/WR coach Shawn Jefferson and Oregon assistant coach Adrian Klemm. Both Jefferson and Klemm played in the NFL for New England.
The Patriots did not have a de facto offensive coordinator this past season, instead entrusting former Bill Belichick assistant Matt Patricia -- a coach with a predominantly defensive background -- into running the show, with help from another recycled Patriots assistant, Joe Judge.
The results were mostly poor. The Patriots finished the season ranked in the bottom half of the league in nearly every major category, including 17th in points scored and 26th in total yards. Second-year QB Mac Jones regressed in Year 2, briefly being benched for Bailey Zappe and failing to build on a promising rookie year under the watchful eye of former coordinator Josh McDaniels, who took the Las Vegas Raiders’ head-coaching job.
After missing the 2022 playoffs, the Patriots took the out-of-character step of releasing a statement last week indicating that they would be interviewing candidates for the offensive coordinator position and that they were trying to retain defensive assistant coach Jerod Mayo with a long-term extension.
O’Brien and Jones worked together during Bama’s national-championship season in 2020; NFL Network’s Mike Giardi reported that Jones helped get O'Brien familiar with the Crimson Tide's system when he arrived. Jones completed 311 of 402 passes (77.4%) for 4,500 yards, 41 TDs and four INTs, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2020.
O’Brien actually only held New England’s coordinator title for one season, in 2011, prior to leaving for the Texans job. But he was considered the primary play-caller for the Patriots and Tom Brady following McDaniels’ first departure after the 2008 season. The Patriots struggled to score points early in the 2009 season before finishing 2010 and 2011 as the league’s first- and third-highest scoring teams.