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New Patriots coach Mike Vrabel needs to hire an offensive coordinator and several names have been mentioned but we need to parse through those names and figure out who the best fit would be for both the Patriots and second year quarterback Drake Maye. 

We break down each potential candidate in tiers. Former Patriots coordinator Josh McDaniels leads the way

Tier One

Josh McDaniels, Former Patriots OC, Broncos, Raiders HC: McDaniels would make a ton of sense for a lot of reasons but if there is one negative, he hasn’t had a lot of success without Tom Brady and is he willing to dress up an offense that at times can be too stationary and lack creativity. If McDaniels can repackage the East Coast offense and blend in more zone read concepts, RPO’s and SPO’s, then he could be the front runner for a return to Foxboro. 

Nick Caley, Rams TE Coach, Pass Game Coordinator: Caley is another former Patriots assistant under Belichick. He is a rising star in the coaching ranks. He has experience in the Patriots system and the west coast offense. Caley was a front runner for the job last season but opted to stay with the Rams. He is in line to possibly coordinate under Sean McVay but that will depend on what happens with current offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Caley would blend systems and feature both a zone running game and man gap blocking schemes. Caley would blend concepts  in the passing game as well. He is a strong candidate due to his ties with the organization. 

Josh McCown, Vikings QB Coach: A longshot, McCown has a previous working relationship with Maye. Considered a raising star in the coaching ranks, McCown played 16 years in the NFL and has coached with the Panthers and Vikings. He is well versed in the modern west coast offense which makes him an appealing candidate if the Patriots were looking for schematic continuity. He also has experienced in other multiple offenses. Vrabel will want to emphasize the running game more so McCown may not be the ideal scheme fit. Despite that, he is a candidate worth keeping an eye on.

Tier Two

Klint Kubiak, OC, Saints: The son of former Texans and Broncos coach Gary Kubiak is a student of the west coast offense and drew interest from the Patriots last off-season. Kubiak is still under contract with the Saints but they are letting him interview elsewhere. His offense in New Orleans got off to a great start this past season but sputtered down the stretch. He is an innovative coach who has incorporated many of the motion and shifting elements that he coached in San Francisco under Kyle Shanahan. He would also bring some schematical stability if hired but he is a long shot. Seattle looks like a possible destination. 

Tim Kelley, Giants TE Coach: Kelley and Vrabel go back from their days together in Houston and Tennessee. Kelley coordinated the Texans offense under Bill O’Brien and then coordinated the Titans offense in 2022 and 2023. Vrabel knows what he would be getting with Kelley as he is well versed in the Patriots East Coast Offense and other multiple systems. Kelley knows exactly how Vrabel wants to play from a physicality standpoint and it could be a relatively easy transition for him.

Pep Hamilton, Former NFL QB Coach/OC: Hamilton interviewed for the head job before Vrabel got hired. From a coordinating standpoint, he has a wealth of coaching experience. He is well known quarterback developer and he comes from the Jim Harbaugh tree which should appeal to Vrabel because he wants to play a more physical style. Hamilton helped develop Andrew Luck in Indianapolis so his work with quarterbacks is well known.

Tier Three

Mike LaFleur, Rams OC: LaFleur does not call the plays for the Rams. He has play calling experience with the New York Jets and is well schooled in the modern west coast having coached for both Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. He would bring system continuity to position but he will be an attractive candidate in the coordinator market and if he wants it, he should get another opportunity elsewhere. 

Luke Steckel, Raiders TEs Coach: The son of Les Steckel has coached with Vrabel before in Tennessee and he knows how Vrabel wants to play offensively. He is well versed in the modern west coast offense. Steckel has never coordinated before. Fun fact. Luke was born in Boston when his dad was the Patriots quarterbacks and wide receivers coach.

Alex Van Pelt, Patriots offensive coordinator: I can see AVP sticking around as quarterbacks coach but I cannot see him being the offensive coordinator despite doing a good job developing Maye last season. Running the modern west coast offense and his connection to Kevin Stefanski and the Browns certainly helps his potential candidacy but it is highly unlikely he comes back as offensive coordinator.

Thomas Brown, Bears Interim HC: Brown interviewed this week and while he is unlikely hire, he does have a good blend of college and NFL experience and he is a former player. He has also run the modern west coast offense and he has experience in multiple offenses as well. The 38 year old is still seen as a rising star in the business and could end up on the staff either as a running backs coach, run game coordinator or pass game coordinator.

Tier Four 

Byron Leftwich, Former Bucs OC: Leftwich interviewed with the Patriots for the head coaching opening and by all accounts, turned some heads. He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator when Tom Brady was there and Brady raves about his work. All that being said, he played against Vrabel but he has no connection to him.

Chad O’Shea, Browns Pass-Game Coordinator/WRs Coach: O’Shea and Vrabel are well connected between the Patriots and Browns but O’Shea is also considered a long shot. Could he make a lateral move? It is possible but as the primary play caller, I just do not see it.

Todd Downing, Jets Interim OC: Downing is also well versed in the modern west coast offense and has coordinated for Vrabel in Tennessee. He did a good job righting the ship with the Jets offense this past season but I do not see a scenario where he ultimately gets another shot with the Patriots. He is a prime position coach target however.  

Brian Hartline, Ohio State Co-OC/WRs Coach: Hartline would be an outside the box hire for Vrabel. He played in the NFL and had a productive career but unless Vrabel was looking to run more of a spread based offense similar to what Chip Kelly has run in college and the NFL, Hartline is not a legitimate candidate. 

Marcus Brady, Chargers Pass Game Coordinator: Brady interviewed this week but the 45 year old is also seen as an outside the box candidate. He does have coordinating experience and a diverse resume of experience but has no connection to Vrabel which I think will matter in this search.

Doug Pederson, Former Eagles and Jaguars Coach: Pederson is a Super Bowl winning coach who has a good blend of head coaching and coordinating experience. He comes from the Andy Reid tree which means he will blend the west coast offense with spread concepts. Yes, he would run the media’s favorite plays, RPO’s. He was just fired by the Jags so he may not be ready to jump back into things.

Frank Reich, Former Colts Coach: Another experienced coach from the Reid tree who could potentially help develop Maye. Do not see the fit other than that.