Focused On Playoffs, McDaniels Won't Interview For Head Coaching Jobs
BOSTON (CBS) - NFL head coaching jobs becoming available by the second on this "Black Monday," but Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is only focused on one thing: the playoffs.
McDaniels, a Cleveland native, was mentioned last week as a potential replacement for Pat Shurmur, who was let go by the Cleveland Browns on Monday.
But McDaniels will have none of that. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, McDaniels has already told teams he will not interview for any head coaching jobs this year.
In a conference call on Monday, McDaniels said he is focused on helping the Patriots go on another Super Bowl run.
"Here's what I'll say about that: I'm thrilled to be back here and came back here for all the right reasons – to learn and to get better as a coach, to work in an organization that I really have a great deal of respect and appreciation for," McDaniels said Monday morning on a conference call. "I'm happy here. My family is happy here. We're excited about what's ahead of us here in the playoffs, and to talk about any other opportunities at this point is, to me, irrelevant, because I'm totally focused on this season and what this season holds."
"I couldn't be more excited to be here and be a New England Patriot and try to do the best job that I can with the title I have right now," he added.
McDaniels had his shot as a head coach when the Denver Broncos hired him in 2009. But he lasted just a season-and-a-half, and after a brief stint at offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, found his way back to New England.
Each of his stops, whether they be remembered as successes or failures, was a learned experience for the 36-year-old McDaniels.
"I think that every opportunity that you have, and certainly [all] that I've gone through since I started a long time ago in 2001 here, has been a learning experience for me. There are certainly going to be mistakes along the way in every role that you hold and that you have and opportunity to work in," he said. "I think as long as you can go through that process and try to get better from each mistake that you make or from each positive result that you get, there's always something to learn from those things and try to make you a better coach, a better leader, a better teacher, a better person, a better communicator, a better staff member."
"Hopefully that's what I've tried to do with all my experiences, including the ones that I've recently had that weren't here in New England," said McDaniels. "I hope every day that I'm better than I was the day before and that every year I can say the same thing. So hopefully going forward in any role that I have, I want to be as good as I can be for that organization that I'm working for. And like I said, I couldn't be more happy to be here in New England."
A total of sevencoaches were fired by Monday afternoon: Shumar by Cleveland; Andy Reid by the Eagles; Chan Gailey by the Bills; Romeo Crennel by the Chiefs; Lovie Smith by the Bears; Norv Turner by the Chargers; and Ken Wisenhunt by the Cardinals.
