Josh McDaniels, who returned to the New England Patriots in January 2025 as offensive coordinator, talked on how his year-long hiatus from football aided in his development as a coach. The time off the pitch after being fired as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in late October 2023 proved to be a great chance for McDaniels to reevaluate his style of play.

A Unique Opportunity for Reflection

After leaving the Raiders, McDaniels took a step back, the first prolonged sabbatical in his coaching career. McDaniels had previously struggled in both his head coaching positions with the Denver Broncos and the Raiders. He was able to enjoy the game during this period free from the demanding duties of being on the sidelines and the stress of weekly deadlines.

When McDaniels thought back on the vacation, he called it "a blessing." He clarified that it provided him with the unique opportunity to acquire a new outlook on the league. "I had a really good opportunity last year to watch football without a lot of deadlines, which was a new, interesting opportunity for me and just see different things that were coming up throughout the course of the league," McDaniels stated. 

Observing Changes in the League

The development of his game was one of the main lessons McDaniels learnt while he was overseas. Younger quarterbacks are now taking the pitch considerably earlier than they did in the past, he said. McDaniels gained a more comprehensive understanding of what is effective for teams nowadays by observing the emergence of fresh trends and strategies that have proven successful in the league. 

“Some quarterbacks are playing a bit earlier than they might have been ten, twelve, or fifteen years ago. Several things that people are doing and utilising schematically are very successful," he said. "There are certain styles that are, I would say, in favour right now, like there always are. I don't know if they will be popular for long, but it was a great chance for me to reflect on my past accomplishments and involvements, as well as what else is happening in the league at the moment that I need to improve on and consider implementing.”

Moving Forward with a New Perspective

McDaniels admitted that he would become a "different" coach as a result of the time away. His vacation has given him the opportunity to reevaluate his coaching philosophy and add new concepts to his methodology. As the Patriots' offensive coordinator, McDaniels hopes to enhance the team's offensive approach by fusing his prior knowledge with fresh insights. 

New England hopes that McDaniels' time off has equipped him with the skills he needs to advance the Patriots' offence. With a fresh perspective, McDaniels appears poised to keep impacting the game in a way that builds on his prior successes while welcoming fresh ideas and trends. 

About Josh McDaniels

An accomplished American football coach, Josh McDaniels is well-known for his tenure as the National Football League's (NFL) head coach and offensive coordinator. McDaniels, who was born on April 22, 1976, started out as a coach's assistant with the New England Patriots, where he was known for his creative offensive tactics. Prior to joining the Denver Broncos as head coach in 2009, he was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots from 2006 to 2008. He rejoined the Patriots as an offensive coordinator following his time with Denver, then in 2022 he was hired as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Although McDaniels' coaching career has been difficult, especially during his time as head coach, he is renowned for his strong football intelligence, his ability to develop quarterbacks, and his profound comprehension of offensive concepts.