Patriots' Matt Patricia leaning toward Lions job, Josh McDaniels likely to Colts

Blake Schuster
·Yahoo Sports Contributor

Two of the top candidates to receive a head coaching job interview, New England Patriots coordinators Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels, are now reportedly a few steps closer to their new gigs.

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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Patricia is expected to take over the Detroit Lions while NFL Media reports McDaniels is leaning toward going to the Indianapolis Colts. Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported last month that the Colts were McDaniels’ top priority in his hunt for a head coaching job.

Neither is a guarantee at this point, but NFL rules mandate that no coach can execute or agree to a new contract until his or her current team’s season has finished, so it’ll be at least another week until there’s any official news.

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has long been tied to head coaching vacancies. (AP)
New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has long been tied to head coaching vacancies. (AP)

Schefter reports that Patricia and the Lions would still need to agree to terms and that nothing is in place, however the mutual interest seems to be more than enough to get something done following New England’s playoff run. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport is linking McDaniel’s to the Colts job.

Patricia has long been in line for a promotion in the NFL having overseen the Patriots’ defense since 2012 and taking part in three Super Bowl victories. He had interviewed with the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers last year, and has been rumored to be an option for the New York Giants this year as well.

This would be the first time the 43-year-old trained rocket scientist gets to run his own NFL team.

McDaniels, however, is looking for a bit of redemption after leading the Denver Broncos to an 11-17 record in parts of two seasons from 2009-10. As a coach in the Patriots organization, and its offensive coordinator since 2012, McDaniels has been around for all five of New England’s championships and has plenty of familiarity with Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett — who would likely remain Indianapolis’ starter pending the health of Andrew Luck.

In any case, the Patriots seem primed to lose at least two coordinators who have been crucial to New England’s success over the last six years. There are still plenty of details to work out, but it appears Bill Belichick is going to be looking for some help this offseason.

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Blake Schuster is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at blakeschuster@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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