The New England Patriots promoted quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels to offensive coordinator Friday. The Patriots played the 2005 season without an offensive coordinator following the departure of previous coordinator Charlie Weis.
McDaniels, 29, is now the youngest coordinator in the NFL. Weis left New England after Super Bowl XXXIX to accept the head coaching job at Notre Dame. McDaniels and coach Bill Belichick split most of the play-calling duties in 2005.
The following is from the Associated Press:
That year, quarterback Tom Brady produced the highest rating of his career, 92.9, which was also the second-highest single-season passer rating in team history. Brady's 28 touchdown passes ranked second in the AFC and tied his career high from 2002.
The move is the latest shuffling on the Patriots' staff. Earlier this week, linebackers coach Dean Pees was appointed defensive coordinator, replacing Eric Mangini, who left to become coach of the New York Jets after one season as New England defensive coordinator. The 35-year-old Mangini is the youngest head coach in the NFL.
Mangini, in turn, replaced Romeo Crennel, who left after the 2004 season to become coach of the Cleveland Browns.
The Patriots, winners of three of the past four Super Bowls, were eliminated by the Denver Broncos last Sunday in the second round of the playoffs.