The New England Patriots are looking for a new offensive coordinator to replace Josh McDaniels, who left Foxboro to become the next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. According to multiple reports, they have two familiar names on their radar.
Bill O'Brien and Adam Gase are currently in the conversation to become New England's new OC. O'Brien last served as head coach of the Houston Texans from 2014-20 and previously was an assistant of Belichick's from 2008-11. Gase was the Miami Dolphins' head coach from 2016-18 and the New York Jets' from 2019-20.
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Former Patriots offensive lineman Dan Koppen has experience playing for both veteran coaches. Koppen was on the Patriots for O'Brien's entire tenure in New England and spent his final season with the Denver Broncos when Gase was their quarterbacks coach.
Koppen joined Phil Perry on the latest episode of the Next Pats Podcast to discuss whether O'Brien or Gase would be a good fit for the Patriots offensive coordinator gig.
Koppen used one word to explain why O'Brien would be a great fit for New England.
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"Continuity," Koppen said. "Nothing in that offense changed. Everything that Mac Jones learned last year will continue and Billy O is a teacher," Koppen said. "He's got a great grasp on the offensive system, the offensive scheme, the offensive concept. He knows what to expect coming into this building with Bill Belichick. ...
"He's a worker, he's a grinder, there's no lapse. There's nothing new to learn than Mac just continuing to feel comfortable and progress in that offense that he learned last year.
Despite Gase's rough tenure as Jets head coach, Koppen believes he'd bring some of the same positive qualities as O'Brien.
"That's the benefit with Gase as well. Gase is gonna run the same system too," he said. "Gase has a great grasp on that offense. He's a smart guy. I know the crazy eyes thing went a little bit haywire down there in New York and Miami, but that happened to McDaniels too in Denver. When you're a head coach when you're young, maybe you learn a few things of what not to do or you don't be yourself in that situation.
"But I've had a great relationship with Billy O over the years and when I played I've had a great relationship with Adam Gase when I played with him."
We asked the fans who they preferred as the next OC, and O'Brien earned a whopping 67.2 percent of the vote.
Also discussed in this episode: Koppen shares his thoughts on Tom Brady's retirement and his decision to leave the Patriots out of his announcement. How will Mac Jones do with a new OC in his second season? And as a former offensive lineman, would Koppen rather run the ball or pass the ball?
Check out the latest episode of the Next Pats Podcast on the NBC Sports Boston Podcast Network, or watch on YouTube below: