Josh McDaniels Josh McDaniels ( born April 21 , 1976 ) is an American football coach , currently serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterback s coach for the New England Patriots . He is in his second stint as offensive coordinator in New England , having begun his career there in 2001 as a personnel assistant , eventually serving as offensive coordinator from 2006 – 2008 . In 2009 , McDaniels was hired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos . At the time of his hiring , 33 year - old McDaniels was the youngest head coach in the NFL , although less than a week later the Tampa Bay Buccaneers named the even - younger Raheem Morris as their head coach . McDaniels was fired by Denver after a 3 – 9 start in 2010 . He spent the 2011 season as offensive coordinator of the St . Louis Rams , but was released by the Rams for the 2011 – 12 NFL playoffs to serve as an offensive assistant for the Patriots in their run to Super Bowl XLVI . Early years . Josh McDaniels is the son of Thom McDaniels ( the 1997 " USA Today " High School Coach of the Year and often described as a " legend " of Ohio high school football ) . Attending his father ' s practices during his youth has been credited with inspiring McDaniels to enter coaching . Playing career . Recruited out of Canton McKinley High School by Greg Debeljak , McDaniels attended John Carroll University , where he played football , primarily as a wide receiver , from 1995 to 1998 . Though a quarterback in high school , he was beaten at that position at John Carroll by Nick Caserio , who joined the Patriots staff in 2001 ( the same year as McDaniels ) . His other teammates included London Fletcher , now a linebacker for the Washington Redskins , and Brian Polian , the special teams coach at Stanford . Coaching career . Michigan State . McDaniels began his coaching career as a senior graduate assistant at Michigan State University from 1999 to 2000 under Nick Saban , parlaying his dad ' s friendship with Saban . New England Patriots . McDaniels joined the Patriots in 2001 as a personnel assistant . From 2002 to 2003 , he served as a defensive coaching assistant for the team , working with the defensive back s in 2003 . In 2004 , he became the team ' s quarterback s coach . McDaniels was with the New England Patriots for all three of their Super Bowl championships , Super Bowl XXXVI , Super Bowl XXXVIII , and Super Bowl XXXIX . After offensive coordinator Charlie Weis left the team following the 2004 season , the Patriots did not name an offensive coordinator for the 2005 season . According to " The New York Times " , in 2008 , it was McDaniels who called the offensive plays for the 2005 season , although suggestions to that effect were made in 2005 . After the season , McDaniels was officially promoted to offensive coordinator , while retaining his responsibilities coaching the team ' s quarterbacks . In the 2007 season , with McDaniels at the helm of the offense , the Patriots set NFL records , scoring 75 touchdowns ( 67 on offense , 50 passing and 17 rushing ) and 589 points , leading to rumors that McDaniels might leave the Patriots for a head coaching job . McDaniels withdrew his name from consideration , however , during the Patriots ' January 2008 playoff run . Shortly after the Patriots ' loss in Super Bowl XLII , Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gave McDaniels a five - page typed report on what it takes to be an effective head coach and run a winning organization , which McDaniels termed " his bible . " Throughout the 2008 season , the two would meet to discuss the report and allow McDaniels to ask non - coaching questions that he brought to later head coaching interviews . Starting quarterback Tom Brady suffered a season - ending injury in Week 1 of the 2008 season . McDaniels directed the Matt Cassel - led Patriots ' offense as the team finished the season with an 11 - 5 record . Denver Broncos . Hiring . On January 11 , 2009 , the Denver Broncos named McDaniels their head coach , replacing Mike Shanahan . The Broncos introduced McDaniels , who agreed to sign a four - year , $ 8 million contract , as their head coach in a press conference the next day . McDaniels ' tenure with the Broncos was marred early on by a controversy involving an alleged trade offer from the Patriots involving the team ' s quarterback , Jay Cutler , which would have sent Matt Cassel to Denver . On March 9 , 2009 , according to ESPN , a conference call involving McDaniels , team owner Pat Bowlen and Cutler failed to resolve the issues . Cutler said he did not trust McDaniels and the organization following the trade controversy . On April 2 , 2009 , the Broncos traded Cutler and a 2009 fifth - round draft pick to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Kyle Orton , first - and third - round picks in 2009 and a first - round pick in 2010 . 2009 season . The Broncos first season under McDaniels started with six straight wins , including an overtime win over the Patriots in Week 5 , before suffering four straight losses . In the last game of the season , McDaniels and the Broncos still had a potential playoff berth on the line , but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs , 44 – 24 , Denver ' s third straight home loss to a division opponent . That left the Broncos with an 8 - 8 season record . Controversy surrounded McDaniels for his benching of Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall for the game due to disciplinary reasons ; Marshall would be traded to the Miami Dolphins after the season . 2010 season . McDaniels ' second season in Denver ended with a 3 – 9 record . The Broncos lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on December 5 , and on the next day , McDaniels was fired by the Broncos . Videotaping scandal . On November 27 , in an incident reminiscient of the New England Patriots ' videotaping controversy of 2007 , " The Denver Post " reported the Broncos were under investigation from the NFL , after it was reported that Steve Scarnecchia , the team ' s director of video operations hired by McDaniels in 2009 , videotaped a San Francisco 49ers ' walkthrough practice , during the teams ' Week 8 game at Wembley Stadium in London , England . The same day , the NFL fined the Broncos and McDaniels $ 50 , 000 each , and Scarnecchia was fired as a result of the incident . Scarnecchia told NFL investigators he acted alone and " knew it was wrong " to tape the walkthrough practice , after the rest of the Broncos ' staff had left the stadium . Scarnecchia later presented McDaniels with the six - minute video , but McDaniels declined to view it , and it was not shown to any other Broncos staff member , and therefore the NFL determined the Broncos had not gained a competitive advantage from it . An anonymous source alerted the Broncos on November 8 , who conducted an internal investigation before alerting the NFL . NFL Security then began its investigation , which included a forensic analysis of the computer from which the recording was later deleted by Scarnecchia . Both the NFL and the Broncos determined that McDaniels knew nothing about the incident . However , the NFL fined McDaniels due to the fact that he did not immediately report the incident to the league office , as required by policy . The NFL also fined the Broncos , as " clubs are ultimately accountable for the conduct of their employees . " McDaniels later issued the following statement : " I apologize for not promptly reporting the improper conduct of our video director before our game against the 49ers in London . The actions of this individual are in no way representative of the values and integrity held by myself , our players and coaches , and the entire Denver Broncos organization . I understand the punishment from the National Football League and support its commitment to the integrity of the game . We have addressed the situation internally to assure that nothing like this happens again . " According to " The Denver Post " , the videotaping incident was a major factor in McDaniels ' firing a week later ; while the Broncos did not deem it something that merited being fired for cause , they considered his failure to report the incident " unforgivable . " St . Louis Rams . On January 18 , 2011 , McDaniels agreed to become the offensive coordinator for the St Louis Rams under head coach Steve Spagnuolo . In Super Bowl XLII , Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants , while McDaniels was the offensive coordinator of the Patriots . Spagnuolo stated , " I ' ve always recognized that he is one of the top offensive minds in the NFL . We think he is a great addition to our organization . " Also , during the same news conference , it was announced McDaniels would have no hand in any personnel decisions . Return to New England Patriots . Following the 2011 season , the Rams fired Spagnuolo as head coach . While McDaniels was under contract for the 2012 season , the Rams informed him that they would not hold him to his contract , and would allow him to leave . The Patriots then hired McDaniels to act as an offensive assistant coach during their 2011 – 12 playoff run , and to replace Bill O ' Brien as offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach for the 2012 season . O ' Brien left the Patriots after the 2011 season concluded to become head coach at Penn State , but maintained playcalling duties through Super Bowl XLVI . Coaching tree . NFL head coaches under whom Josh McDaniels has served : Assistant coaches under Josh McDaniels who became NFL head coaches : Assistant coaches under Josh McDaniels who became NCAA head coaches :