AFC East Report: Dolphins Expected to Hire Adam Gase as Head Coach; Didn't Interview Patriots DC Matt Patricia

The Patriots have two potential head coaching candidates on their staff in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Today, the team has given them the day off in order to interview for vacant positions around the league. Patricia was scheduled to interview with two teams, the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. However, the interview with the Patriots' division rival never took place.

Why? Because, according to multiple media reports, the Dolphins have already found their new head coach and are expected to make the hire official soon: Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase will become Miami's 12th head coach.

The 37-year old Michigan State alumn started his career as a graduate assistant at LSU before moving to the NFL. Gase rose to prominence in 2013 as offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos, who broke the all-time scoring record during his first year at the job. However, after the 2014 season, he left Denver to move to Chicago with John Fox.

After one year with the Bears, Gase now has his first head coaching job, succeeding interim head coach Dan Campbell, who is expected to stay with the team as an assistant coach.