Will Josh McDaniels Take a Head Coaching Job?

Rick: I think, eventually, Josh McDaniels will land a head coaching job elsewhere, but I don’t think it will be this season. I predict that the Falcons are going to hire Rex Ryan to help improve their defense and the 49ers might look internally for their head coach. I think the one thing that holds McDaniels back in interviews is that he has to explain why he took Tim Tebow with a first round pick. He is still one of the better offensive minds in the game and his time will come. I just think it won’t be this season. We definitely know Chicago isn’t an option for him as long as Jay Cutler is the quarterback over there.

Kyle: McDaniels leaving is a bit of a concern- only if he is replaced from within. The Pats need to look outside of their insulated interior coaching fraternity. There is no Bill O’Brien on the staff who seems ready to replace Josh McD. To be 100 percent honest, I would love to see th Pats grab lane Kiffin as a replcement for McDaniels. He is a brilliant offensive coach, who has been humbled. He is creative and utilizes his personnel to its fullest- as opposed to puting in a system to which his players must conform and adjust.

Raj: Right now I feel it’s too early to tell. In my opinion, I really feel it all depends on how the Patriots do in the playoffs. If they go pretty far and maybe win the Super Bowl too, I think McDaniels will stay as the offensive coordinator on this team. We saw that he was inconsistent but not terrible as head coach of the Broncos. So he would fit the system of other teams in need of a coach (like SF of ATL). Assuming the Patriots don’t meet their expectations, I can clearly see McDaniels taking a head coaching job.

Derek: If the Atlanta job is available, then I think McDaniels leaves New England.  The Falcons’ roster has talent, they compete in the weakest division in the NFL, and he has Patriots ties with the front office.  It’s by far his best chance to be successful in his second head coaching gig.  I don’t think that he’ll bolt from New England to head to the Niners.  There is clearly some front office dysfunction going on in San Fran and competing with the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Rams for the division every season is certainly not guaranteed success.