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According to Adam Schefter of the network ESPN, Bill O’Brien would be back in the NFL next season. O’Brien reportedly signed up with the New England Patriots to become the team’s new offensive coordinator.
Alabama OC/QB coach Bill O’Brien has returned to New England and is being named the Patriots offensive coordinator, sources tell @ClowESPN and me. O’Brien was a Patriots’ assistant coach from 2007-2011, and now returns to coach Mac Jones, whom he briefly worked with at Alabama.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
January 24, 2023
The 53-year-old O’Brien has spent the past two seasons as the University of Alabama’s offensive coordinator. He would now be back where his NFL career began in 2007 as an assistant coach.
During his first stint in New England, O’Brien quickly rose through the ranks on Bill Belichick’s coaching staff. He served as offensive coordinator for three years (2009-11), before leaving for head coaching jobs with Penn State (2012-13) and the Houston Texans (2014-20).
A native of Massachusetts, O’Brien would aim to revive one of the worst offenses in the NFL in 2022. He would work closely with young quarterback Mac Jones, whom he briefly knew with the Crimson Tide of Alabama.
Last season, Belichick did not name an official offensive coordinator. He relied primarily on Matt Patricia as his offensive manager, despite the fact that Patricia had been more of a defensive coach since the start of his career.
With O’Brien’s return to the NFL, Nick Saban will be looking for his sixth different offensive coordinator in the last eight seasons. The previous five – Steve Sarkisian, Mike Locksley, Brian Daboll, Lane Kiffin and O’Brien – have earned NFL jobs or become NCAA head coaches.
