As offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels found massive success with the New England Patriots, winning six Super Bowls during his two stints with the team. Now, with the Patriots sitting atop the AFC East and riding a five-game winning streak, McDaniels is once again leading the squad to success. Whether a seventh Super Bowl title is in the cards remains to be seen. However, despite his brilliance as a coordinator, McDaniels has yet to replicate that same success as a head coach.

And now, his quarterback’s recent praise for the 49-year-old seems to have doused the hopes for a comeback, if there’s any. The Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye, recently touched upon his experience playing under the OC. “He was put on this earth to be an offensive coordinator,” he said about the coach without much hesitation. “Happy to be in the headset with him.”

Now, McDaniels’ wish and efforts to find success as a head coach are no secret. His first stint in coaching was with the Patriots, where he took on several roles, including quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. In his first four years with the team, the Patriots won three Super Bowl titles.

It was during this time that he received a report from Bill Belichick on how to improve as a head coach. He called it his “bible,” but those 5 pages of content didn’t help him much during his first attempt at being a head coach in 2009. His time as the Denver Broncos’ head coach was anything but smooth, filled with controversies and plenty of challenges along the way.

After getting fired by the Broncos, he returned to the Patriots in 2011 as offensive coordinator. During his second stint, he added a few more achievements to his résumé, including three more Super Bowl titles. Later, he joined the Las Vegas Raiders as the head coach in 2022.

However, the coach once again struggled to lead the Raiders to consistent wins. He was criticized for his inability to help the team close out and maintain leads. This ultimately led to his firing.

McDaniels rejoined the Patriots in January 2025 as offensive coordinator, where he has been crucial in the development of QB Maye. Still, success and stability in a head coaching role have continued to elude him.

While it may be bad news for the Patriots, McDaniels reportedly hasn’t given up on his dream.

Josh McDaniels hopes for a head coach job opportunity

He hasn’t been able to find much success as a head coach during both his stints with the Broncos and the Raiders. In 2023, he was even given the lowest rating as a head coach by the NFLPA. But that hasn’t wavered his hopes.

Earlier this month, when asked whether he still had aspirations of becoming a head coach, McDaniels quickly dismissed the idea, according to Patriots reporter Phil Perry. “I love living in New England. That’s the short of it,” McDaniels said. “I just try to focus on now. Really enjoy coaching for Mike… That would be surprising if I moved my kids out of Westwood.” Denying the desire to be a head coach completely.

After the Patriots’ win over the New Orleans Saints, the NFL insider Albert Breer reported that the coach might be interested if he is given the opportunity.

“Josh McDaniels is a football coach,” he said. “And I would tell you that if a third opportunity came along, he would listen.”

“I think it has to be the right place,” he further added. “I think this is an important piece here: It would have to be the right owner. And, of course, on the other side of this, a team would have to be interested. There’s less of a chance of that happening now after the way he flamed out in Denver and Vegas than there was the last two times he was in this sort of situation in New England.”

So, for the Patriots, there’s a chance that McDaniels might look to leave, and that isn’t good news for head coach Mike Vrabel. He shares a great bond with the Patriots and the players. But given his history, it might be tough for teams to commit to hiring him as head coach.