One “very influential voice” of the New England Patriots organization “definitely wants” Bill O’Brien as the team’s offensive coordinator, per a report from NFL Network’s Mike Giardi.
O’Brien previously worked with the Patriots from 2007-2011. He started off an offensive assistant with the organization and then worked his way up to wide receivers coach in 2008. The 2009 and 2010 seasons were spent working with the quarterbacks, and he continued to work with the position group when he took over as offensive coordinator in 2011.
O’Brien appeared in one Super Bowl with the Patriots in the 2011 season, when the team lost to the New York Giants by a 21-17 score. He then shifted gears to the college ranks and became Penn State’s head coach for two seasons before returning to the NFL as the head coach for the Houston Texans.
Six seasons later, he found himself on the University of Alabama coaching staff as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2021.
The idea of O’Brien as a potential offensive coordinator for New England has been floated around in the past couple months. The coach’s familiarity with Bill Belichick and his offensive system could help quarterback Mac Jones and the offense get back on track, after a difficult 2022 season.
It will be intriguing to see if O’Brien ends up coming back to New England. The Patriots are planning to make changes this offseason, and O’Brien would certainly be one of the bigger dominoes to fall.
