If Josh McDaniels is eyeing a return to the head coaching ranks, there may be a compelling opportunity waiting in the AFC East - and it’s not with the Patriots this time.
The Buffalo Bills made a seismic move by parting ways with Sean McDermott following their Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos. With Josh Allen under center - arguably the best quarterback in the league - Buffalo instantly becomes one of the most attractive landing spots among the remaining head coaching vacancies, which also include the Cardinals, Raiders, and Browns.
McDaniels' name hasn’t officially surfaced in connection with the job, but the dots are easy to connect. He has existing relationships within the Bills organization and even spent time around the team during his year away from coaching.
That kind of familiarity matters. Coaching searches often hinge on trust and fit as much as X’s and O’s.
And let’s be honest - the idea of pairing McDaniels' offensive mind with Josh Allen’s arm talent is enough to make any football fan raise an eyebrow. Allen's blend of power, mobility, and playmaking instincts could be an ideal match for McDaniels’ system, which has historically thrived with quarterbacks who can process quickly and make plays off-script.
Of course, McDaniels' head coaching résumé is a mixed bag. He first left New England in 2009 to take over in Denver, where he went 8-8 in his debut season before being let go during a 3-9 campaign the following year. After a brief stint as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, he returned to Foxborough in 2011 and helped guide the Patriots through a decade of offensive dominance.
Then came the Vegas experiment. Hired by the Raiders in 2022, McDaniels went 6-11 in his first season and was fired midway through 2023 after a 3-5 start. It was another short-lived chapter, but one that didn’t seem to tarnish his reputation as a top-tier offensive mind.
So, is Buffalo the right next step? Some insiders think the timing might not be quite right.
The sense is that McDaniels may need more time before jumping back into a head coaching role - especially after the way things ended in Vegas. But the Bills are clearly casting a wide net.
Their reported interview with Philip Rivers shows they’re not afraid to think outside the box. That openness could leave the door cracked for someone like McDaniels.
Still, for now, there’s nothing concrete linking him to the Bills. It’s speculation - but speculation rooted in logic.
McDaniels is back in New England as offensive coordinator, and that move already looks like a win for the Patriots. In his system, second-year quarterback Drake Maye blossomed into a legitimate MVP candidate, leading New England to its first AFC Championship appearance since 2018.
If McDaniels does get another shot at being a head coach, it’ll likely be with a team that believes in his vision and gives him the right quarterback to execute it. In that sense, Buffalo checks a lot of boxes. Whether the timing is right - for him or for the Bills - remains the biggest unknown.