Robert Kraft Provides Important Detail About Josh McDaniels Hire

Patriots fans had mixed feelings about the Josh McDaniels hire, but Robert Kraft provided important context about the offensive coordinator’s third stint in New England.

Head coach Mike Vrabel reportedly considered other candidates for offensive coordinator. However, he chose a familiar option, which raised red flags given the franchise’s dysfunction in the post-Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era. Speculation arose that Robert Kraft and team leadership overruled their new head coach to bring back McDaniels. The Patriots owner seemed to try to put that speculation to rest when he spoke to a team reporter.

“When we interviewed Mike and asked whom he might be interested in bringing on, without pause, his first one was to bring Josh McDaniels because he thought it would be something very special for Drake,” Kraft told The Atheltic’s Chad Graff this week. “Their experience and chemistry together is positive. I think that was a good development. From every way you look at it, I think it’s a win-win. It was his decision. Josh was very excited. Hope we get the fruits of the potential positives out of that. He has a pretty good history of developing and dealing with good quarterbacks and developing an offense that can really produce.”

There you have it. Kraft confirmed it was Vrabel’s decision, something multiple Patriots insiders reported, and also admitted it was something he would have liked, too. Drake Maye reportedly also was “rooting” for the McDaniels hire. However, that might not be enough to convince the contrarians.