Patriots quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien has been the team’s de facto offensive coordinator the last two years.
Now he’s their official offensive coordinator. The team promoted O’Brien on Friday and his role shouldn’t really change much. He’s primarily called the plays since Josh McDaniels left town for the Broncos. O’Brien will keep his QB coach title.
For now, it appears the Patriots won’t have a defensive coordinator for a second straight year. Matt Patricia, seen as a possible coordinator in the future, was moved from linebackers coach safeties coach. Patrick Graham was promoted to linebackers coach. Brian Flores was named defensive assistant, while defensive backs coach Corwin Brown is leaving town as expected.
It’s now been two years since a Patriots assistant has been picked off to lead another team. (One reason Belichick may have withheld the coordinator title of late is because of the team’s coaching turnover.)
O’Brien is the next logical guy to get a chance elsewhere, especially if the Patriots lead the league in points again.
