SANTA CLARA | Tom Brady marked his era with 10 appearances in the Super Bowl, including seven victories, two absolute records for a player. The man who has long been his offensive mentor, Josh McDaniels, could arrive at exactly the same point if the Patriots were to surprise the Seahawks on Sunday.
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With the Patriots, Brady ended up looking elsewhere in 2020. Even head coach Bill Belichick, who seemed devoted to his role until death, in turn experienced the end of a long marriage after the 2023 season.
Despite all odds, Josh McDaniels still remains there as offensive coordinator.
Well, always is not the right word, since McDaniels has sometimes taken over. In 2009, he moved to Denver, where his first opportunity as head coach with the Broncos proved to be a disaster.
He bounced around with the Rams in 2011 before returning to the Patriots from 2012 to 2021.
Then, a second opportunity to be the master on board was offered to him with the Raiders, another fiasco, in 2022 and 2023.
It was inevitable, he returned to his first love this season to lead the Patriots offense.
“Every time I left, I didn’t expect to come back,” he told Journal this week, sitting at a table, in a rare calm moment when the journalistic mob was not assailing him.
“You can just make the best decision you can every time and I’m happy to still be here in this position. »
Always grateful
Josh McDaniels during a media session during Super Bowl week near the team’s hotel in Santa Clara. – Getty Images via AFP
McDaniels is getting to know the song funny with the Patriots. This is, like his quarterback at the time, his 10th Super Bowl. And like his old foal, once again, he is looking for a seventh ring.
“I’ll never, ever, ever say it’s routine,” McDaniels smiled, when asked if he was getting used to the Super Bowl circus.
“It’s a blessing. Every time you experience such an opportunity, you are lucky, pampered, privileged. I live it as if it were my first and the day that I no longer feel that way, it will clearly be time to move on,” he added.
A new scenario
It must also be said that the current season has been nothing like McDaniels’ previous stints with the Patriots.
Far from Brady, it’s a new life with his young successor Drake Maye, even if he tries not to get into the comparison game.
“Tom was the best player ever. Drake is still learning, but his maturity is amazing. He is like a basketball player who absolutely wants the ball in his hands for the last basket,” he imagined.
In 13 seasons as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, the offense finished in the top 10 eight times in points scored. This season, this unit climbs to third place.
Don’t imagine that McDaniels is going to puff out his chest publicly.
“If you are part of a team that has the chance to reach the Super Bowl, that means that many have worked extremely hard. I’m just overwhelmed to be a part of this team. »
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