Bill Belichick Refused to Let Josh McDaniels Move Up His Head Coaching Interviews
By Jerry Trotta
The relationship between Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels remains one of the NFL's most befuddling mysteries.
Sure, they've enjoyed massive success together in Foxborough, but Belichick has never shied away from calling out his offensive coordinator through the years. And the narrative surrounding their perplexing partnership has only continued surrounding McDaniels' schedule for head coaching interviews this week.
Per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, Belichick intentionally delayed McDaniels' interviews this past week -- while at the same time pushing former special teams coordinator Joe Judge to interview with the New York Giants on Monday.
At the same time Bill Belichick was pushing Joe Judge to the Giants and letting him interview on Monday, he was doing whatever he could not to let Josh McDaniels interview until later in the week. https://t.co/J98GT7aU7i
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 11, 2020
Of course, Judge was subsequently promoted as the Giants' new head coach.
This is shocking when you consider that the Patriots were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend. As we know, McDaniels was linked with a number of teams -- most notably the Cleveland Browns -- and sources close to Canfora claim that Belichick was adamant in not permitting McDaniels to expedite the process.
If the Browns hire Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, how will Bill Belichick replace him?@PhilAPerry examines the potential candidates should the position become available.https://t.co/8WpbQDuqYt pic.twitter.com/NDs2zG1C7H
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) January 11, 2020
Perhaps this was a last-ditch attempt from Belichick to keep McDaniels in New England. After all, he went to great lengths to persuade his heralded play-caller to ditch the Indianapolis Colts after agreeing to become their head coach in 2017. (It worked.)
Whatever the case, at this point in the offseason, the Browns are the only organization with a head coaching vacancy to fill, and reports suggest that McDaniels is inching closer to an agreement with Cleveland.
Belichick's self-interested efforts could all be for naught. But he's giving it his best shot.