A Family Divided: McDaniels Brothers Set for Playoff Showdown in Foxborough
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The postseason is no stranger to drama, but Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots adds a rare twist: two brothers squaring off with a trip to the AFC Championship Game on the line.
Ben and Josh McDaniels will be on opposite sidelines, coaching their respective offenses in one of the most high-stakes family reunions the NFL has seen in years. And while this isn’t the first time the McDaniels brothers have faced each other in the league, it’s the first time everything - legacies, locker rooms, and Lombardi dreams - is on the line.
Ben McDaniels, Houston’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator, has helped shape a young Texans offense that’s found its rhythm at just the right time. Across the field stands his older brother, Josh McDaniels, the Patriots’ longtime offensive architect and one of the league’s most respected play-callers. Together, they’ve spent decades immersed in the game - and it shows.
“Obviously, the stakes are higher,” Ben said this week. “But it’s a lot of fun, honestly. Every time we get an opportunity to play against each other, you enjoy the concept of it.”
That concept goes far beyond X’s and O’s. It’s built on a lifetime of shared film sessions, backyard competitions, and a relentless work ethic that was forged in their Ohio upbringing.
The McDaniels brothers grew up in a football-first household, where their father - a coach himself - instilled a deep love and respect for the game. That foundation helped shape two of the sharpest offensive minds in today’s NFL.
“It becomes reflective and appreciative of our dad and our mom,” Ben said. “For raising us in an environment where we appreciated and loved football and ultimately ended up in football together.”
The similarities between the brothers aren’t just genetic - they’re football DNA. Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who previously played under Ben in Houston, sees it clearly.
“They’re a lot similar in regards to how you’re working, the time that you put in, and how serious they take it,” Diggs said. “They both love football.”
That shared passion is now the backdrop for a game that will send one brother to the AFC title game and send the other into the offseason. And while the McDaniels family will be in the stands, don’t expect any neutral ground - not emotionally, at least.
Josh, never one to shy away from competition, kept it simple: “We compete almost in everything we do. This will be no different.”
So, when the Texans and Patriots take the field this weekend, it won’t just be about schemes and matchups - it’ll be about legacy, family, and the game that brought two brothers to the biggest stage of their coaching careers.
For a few hours on Sunday, football will split a family that’s always been united by it. Only one will move on. But both will walk off the field knowing they’re part of something bigger than just the scoreboard.