Josh McDaniels reversed course on a job as the Colts head coach on Tuesday
Hours after the Indianapolis Colts announced that Josh McDaniels agreed to be their new head coach, the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator has changed his mind.
‘After agreeing to contract terms to become the Indianapolis Colts’ new head coach, New England Patriots assistant coach Josh McDaniels this evening informed us that he would not be joining our team,’ the Colts said in a statement on Tuesday
‘Although we are surprised and disappointed, we will resume our head coaching search immediately and find the right fit to lead our team and organization on and off the field,’ the team said, adding that a planned press conference with McDaniels tomorrow had been cancelled.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft helped convince McDaniels to stay in New England by ‘sweetening his contract’ in the days since the team’s 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in the Super Bowl, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
McDaniels’ decision to stay sparked speculation that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s tenure is about to end, but those close to McDaniels say that isn’t the case, a source told ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Belichick and star quarterback Tom Brady have both said they intend to return to the Patriots next season.
Bill Belichick (above) will remain head coach for New England through 2018, which was a major reason McDaniels decided to stay on, according to sources close to McDaniels
Belichick’s status as New England’s head coach through 2018 and family stability were among McDaniels’ major reasons for changing his mind on changing teams, according to ESPN.
Tom Brady has also said that he plans to return to the Patriots in the 2018 season
Kraft reportedly still has bad blood with the Colts from the 2015 Deflategate scandal.
On Tuesday morning, the Colts had tweeted: ‘We are excited to welcome Josh McDaniels, who has agreed to terms as our new head coach! Press conference scheduled for Wednesday.’
McDaniels, 41, was set to be a head coach for the second time, as he departed New England previously for the top job with the Broncos. He was 11-17 with Denver before being fired midway through the 2010 season.
According to ESPN, Patriots assistant QB coach Jerry Schuplinski was due to join McDaniels in Indianapolis, while former Dallas Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus was to be McDaniels’ defensive coordinator.
The Colts went 4-12 and finished last in the AFC South in 2017 under Chuck Pagano, who was fired after six seasons on December 31.
Colts owner Jim Irsay participated in a second interview with McDaniels along with general manager Chris Ballard, who hosted McDaniels in a one-on-one session at the end of the regular season.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft (above) helped convince McDaniels to stay in New England by ‘sweetening his contract’, sources told ESPN
Part of the optimism around the Colts centers on the anticipated return of franchise quarterback Andrew Luck (pictured)
Part of the optimism around the Colts centers on the anticipated return of franchise quarterback Andrew Luck.
He missed the entire 2017 season recovering from shoulder surgery and was expected to benefit from the mentoring of McDaniels, who is renowned for his work with Tom Brady in New England.
Luck, 28, has missed 26 regular-season games the past three seasons.
The Colts have the third pick in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft.
McDaniels has been with the Patriots for all but three seasons since 2001. He has been the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2012, the same positions he held in New England from 2006-08.