The New England Patriots have a long list of players about to enter free agency. But while the roster might see some major turnover over the course of the offseason, the coaching staff is expected to stay put as both offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and his defensive counterpart Matt Patricia will return in 2017.
However another important staff member potentially might not. According to Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman, tight ends coach Brian Daboll is expected to interview with Alabama:
SOURCE: Patriots assistant & former NFL OC Brian Daboll is expected to interview for the #Alabama OC job. He GAed for Saban at MSU.
Daboll, who has been a member of all five Patriots Super Bowl winning teams, serves as New England’s tight ends coach since 2014. He originally became a member of the team’s coaching staff in 2000 after having spent two years as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under current Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
After serving as defensive assistant and wide receivers coach from 2000 to 2006, Daboll left Foxboro to become quarterbacks coach with the New York Jets. He left New York in 2008 and became offensive coordinator in Cleveland (2009-2010), Miami (2011) and Kansas City (2012). In 2013, Daboll returned to New England where he coaches ever since.
With Josh McDaniels a hot name on the head coaching market, Daboll is viewed as the leading candidate to replace him as offensive coordinator. After all, the 41-year old has not only served as a coordinator before, he also has called preseason games for the Patriots’ offense.
However, with McDaniels showing little intent to actually leave New England – at least until the perfect opportunity presents itself – Daboll might be inclined to look elsewhere for the next step up the job ladder. It seems he might have found an opportunity in Alabama; whether he actually is offered a job remains to be seen.