Josh McDaniels, Jerod Mayo to stay with Patriots after Eagles hire Nick Sirianni as head coach

The NFL coaching carousel has spun another round and produced another result: the Philadelphia Eagles, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, will hire Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as their next head coach. The move does not only impact the two teams, but also has an effect on the New England Patriots.

With Sirianni headed to Philadelphia both offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo are now expected to stay in New England for the 2021 season. The Patriots assistant coaches have previously interviewed for the vacant job with the Eagles — McDaniels in particular has reportedly performed well during his meeting with the organization — but they have apparently decided to go in a different direction.

This move now all but ensures that the Patriots’ coaching staff will have some stability heading into the new season.

While quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch will have to be replaced, McDaniels will stay put to continue leading New England’s offense for a 10th straight season. Considering that the team is in the middle of a rebuilding process on the offensive side of the ball that will also likely involve getting a new quarterback acclimated to the system, having the veteran play caller around to work with the group is certainly good news for the organization.

As for Mayo, he will be back for a third season as an assistant on the defensive side of the ball. The former first-round linebacker worked with his old position group the last two years and is a rising star within the NFL coaching community; his interview with the Eagles despite his limited experience on the sidelines is proof of that. Keeping him around also helps a unit that is trying to return to form after a challenging 2020 campaign.

While one head coaching gig remains open — the Houston Texans’ — the two Patriots assistants are not among the eight men who have either interviewed for the position thus far or are planning to do so. There is a natural connection to the vacancy considering that new Texans general manager Nick Caserio spent the last two decades in New England, but so far it appears as if the club is looking elsewhere for its next head coach.

As a result, the Patriots should expect to have both Josh McDaniels and Jerod Mayo on its staff in 2021.