The coaching carousel in Chapel Hill is already spinning, and it’s spinning fast. North Carolina parted ways with offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens immediately after wrapping up the 2025 regular season, and now the Tar Heels are looking to fill a high-profile vacancy on Bill Belichick’s staff.
One name gaining quiet momentum in the search? Houston Texans assistant Ben McDaniels.
Now, if that last name sounds familiar, it should. Ben is the younger brother of longtime NFL offensive mind Josh McDaniels, who spent nearly two decades working under Belichick in New England. That family connection alone is enough to raise eyebrows, but Ben brings more than just pedigree to the table-he’s got a coaching resume that’s quietly built him a reputation as a rising talent in both the college and pro ranks.
At 45, McDaniels has logged time at multiple levels of the game. His college experience includes stints at Rutgers and Michigan, where he worked under Jim Harbaugh in 2018.
Before that, he was part of the Rutgers staff in 2014 and 2015, then made the jump to the NFL with the Chicago Bears in 2016. That blend of college and pro experience is exactly the kind of background that tends to resonate with Belichick, who values coaches who can adapt, teach, and game-plan across different systems.
McDaniels has been with the Texans since 2021, originally brought in by then-head coach David Culley. What’s notable is that he’s been retained through two coaching changes-first by Lovie Smith in 2022, and then by DeMeco Ryans in 2023.
That kind of continuity is rare in today’s NFL, and it speaks volumes about how McDaniels is viewed inside the building. Serving as Houston’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator, he’s been a steady presence in the development of a young offensive core.
Meanwhile, his brother Josh’s history with Belichick is well documented. Two separate stints with the Patriots, 18 years in total, and a key role in shaping one of the most efficient offenses in NFL history.
While Josh had his own head coaching ventures in Denver and Las Vegas, his strongest work has always come in collaboration with Belichick. That bond could make Ben McDaniels an intriguing fit for North Carolina’s staff under the legendary head coach.
Of course, Belichick has more than one hole to fill. Alongside Kitchens, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer was also let go following the regular season finale. That leaves two key positions open as Belichick looks to reset his staff heading into the next chapter of his college coaching tenure.
Whether Ben McDaniels ultimately gets the nod remains to be seen, but he’s a name worth keeping an eye on. With deep roots in both the college and pro games, and a coaching lineage that’s hard to ignore, he checks a lot of boxes for what Belichick typically values in his assistants.