Wild Accusations: Ex New England Patriots Coach Josh McDaniels Traded Player Over Wife Jealousy
As the New England Patriots peer into a murky future that potentially doesn't include Bill Belichick, there are those predicting one of the coaches that will help replace him will be Josh McDaniels. In some circles, McDaniels - who owns six Super Bowls rings from two stints on Belichick's staff in Foxboro - will be the offensive coordinator on a 2024 "dream team" that includes Jerod Mayo guiding the defense and Mike Vrabel as head coach.
But around the rest of the NFL, McDaniels' reputation is in shambles. It's not just that he is 20-33 in four seasons as a head coach. It's more so how he spectacularly flamed out of jobs with the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders.
The cautionary tales about hiring - or in New England's case, re-hiring - McDaniels are spilling out from every dark corner.
Raiders players are rejoicing now that he's gone, claiming they no longer are forced to "walk on eggshells." McDaniels reportedly "lost" the Raiders' locker room when decided in Week 7 to start former Patriots' backup at quarterback. Critics are also pointing to the fact that in Denver he hired as his defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who is now on the hot seat in Chicago after going 5-21 in a season-and-a-half as Bears' head coach.
Report: Josh McDaniels, to reinforce his credibility, carried Tom Brady's jock strap in his pocket.
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Even former Patriots players that won alongside McDaniels - such as Chris Long - are calling out his tactics in Las Vegas.
But also coming out are alleged stories that have little to do with X's and O's, but a lot to do with McDaniels' troubling DNA.
In a scathing article written by former Broncos' receiver/tight end Nate Jackson, he alleges that McDaniels:
*Carried an unwashed jock strap in his pocket that he stole from Tom Brady's locker. "The one he tossed to anyone who ever questioned his football acumen," Jackson writes. "Smell it, he’d say. Any questions?"
*Told Broncos players after cutting veteran quarterback Jay Cutler: "Fellas, don’t worry about the quarterback situation," Jackson writes, "I can turn a high school quarterback into an All-Pro.”
But the craziest tale from Jackson - who was cut by McDaniels after catching 27 passes and two touchdowns in a six-year career in Denver - involves the coach allegedly trading a player because his wife was attracted to him.
Writes Jackson, "McDaniels' ego wasn't only fragile on the field. He famously shipped out running back Peyton Hillis because, rumor had it, McDaniels thought his wife was attracted to Hillis."
In Denver media circles, that last story has been bandied about. … but that doesn’t make it any less stunning.
On some levels, McDaniels' returning to Foxboro to mentor quarterback Mac Jones may make some sense. But no doubt the shine has worn off his once-blinding star.
