Patriots Announce Return Of Josh McDaniels As Assistant Coach

The rumors are all true: Josh McDaniels is returning to the New England Patriots as an assistant for head coach Bill Belichick, the team announced today.

McDaniels, who worked under Belichick between 2001 and '08, is returning to the team immediately and will be on the sidelines next Saturday, as the Patriots take on the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium. Coincidentally, it was the Broncos that McDaniels led for two seasons as a head coach after leaving New England.

McDaniels played his college ball at John Carroll University, where he graduated in 1998. He worked as a graduate assistant at Michigan State before serving under Belichick -- first as a personnel assistant, then a defensive coaching assistant, then quarterbacks coach. He was the offensive coordinator between 2006 and '08, including the Patriots' record-setting offensive season in 2007.