"Announcement: Josh McDaniels to Rejoin Patriots as Offensive Coordinator for Third Time"

Josh McDaniels is returning to New England for his third stint as the Patriots' offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

The 48-year-old will be in charge of an offense led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, as part of new head coach Mike Vrabel's first staff in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

McDaniels previously spent time with the Patriots from 2001-2008 and 2012-2021, holding various positions before becoming the offensive coordinator in 2006. He was a key member of all six Super Bowl-winning teams during the Bill Belichick era.

However, he also has two unsuccessful stints as a head coach on his resume. He was fired by the Denver Broncos after 12 games in 2010 and had a similar experience with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, lasting just eight games into his second season.

After taking a year off from coaching in 2024, McDaniels reportedly used the time to "evolve" his offensive strategies by spending time with different NFL and college teams.

During his most recent season as New England's offensive coordinator in 2021, the Patriots ranked sixth in the league in scoring and 15th in yards per game. This was also rookie quarterback Mac Jones' first year, in which he earned a Pro Bowl selection. However, his performance declined in the following years without McDaniels and he was eventually traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Maye, who was selected third overall in the 2024 draft, had a solid rookie season with 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 13 games (12 starts).

The Patriots had a disappointing 4-13 record in 2024 and subsequently fired Jerod Mayo after just one season as head coach under Belichick.