NFL rumors: Patriots might lose another coach to the Dolphins

For the second straight year, it looks like the New England Patriots’ coaching staff will undergo a considerable transformation: de facto defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brian Flores is almost certain to leave the team to become the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and it looks as if he will bring a familiar face with him to South Beach: Patriots wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea.

According to a report by the Sun Sentinel’s Omar Kelly, O’Shea is considered the front runner to become Miami’s offensive coordinator under Flores’ new regime. The 49-year old would not be the only coach with a Patriots history to become a part of Flores’ coaching staff with the Dolphins: former New England linebackers coach Patrick Graham is also expected to move to Miami and become the new defensive coordinator.

As for O’Shea, he is currently in his tenth season with the Patriots — all of them coaching the team’s wide receivers, first under Bill O’Brien and later under current offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. And with McDaniels staying with the team at least for one more year, O’Shea cannot be blamed to take a step up the career ladder even if it comes in an initially less stable environment than what he currently has.

If he indeed leaves the Patriots, that opens up another spot on the Patriots’ offensive staff. There are, however, multiple candidates to possibly fill the vacancy: assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schupliski appears to be the front runner at this point in time, with offensive coaching assistants DeMarcus Covington and Atif Austin also potential replacements.