Josh McDaniels Mic'd Up is the Stuff Patriots Fans Dreams are Made Of

Erica Denhoff. Shutterstock Images.

For those of you who haven't been keeping track, Josh McDaniels is the Patriots fifth offensive coordinator in the past five seasons. A streak that began in 2022, after previous offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to take the head coaching job in Las Vegas. To put that in perspective, Hunter Henry was signed in 2021, and has had to learn from an entirely new OC every year of his Foxboro career. 

But now the search is over. They finally (all due respect to Bill O'Brien) have the perfect man for the job. That job being to not only turn the worst offense in the league from 2022-24 around, but even more importantly to develop Drake Maye to his full potential. 

As far back as last February, not long after he was brought back to fold and warmly embraced like a Prodigal Son returning, there was reason to think he could succeed on the mission:

And so far, that faith has not only been rewarded, it's succeeded beyond any Pats fans wildest fever dream:

Maye has been, in a literal sense, off the charts:

So this week was as good a time as any to put a mike on the coach, watch and listen to him work, and bear witness to him turn his offense into a Top 10 unit in the league for the first time since he last coached here in 2021:

Advertisement

Grade A, 5-star, top quality Patriots Porn. I probably should have put a TV-MA label and a "Viewer discretion is advised" warning at the beginning. But no matter. You need to see this. And even your kids are going to learn it sometime. Better here than in the streets. 

It's hard to pick out one great moment. But it's hard to overlook the clip where he knew exactly what would happen on Kayshon Boutte's touchdown catch before the ball was even snapped:

THIS is what was going on that led to Maye running up the field pointing at the sideline. One can only assume McDaniels was calling this while the helmet speaker was still connected. He knew Boutte could get Dom Jones into a back pedal and then bite on the double move. And it worked like he's already watched the play happen and was describing the replay. 

Unbelievable. And exactly what this franchise and this fan base have been missing. That's the money shot of the whole video. But there are so many other great ones. Him telling Maye on the bench to just get the ball to the guys he wants when they're being defended by the guys he wants on them. It's been forever since we actually talked about having offensive mismatches in this town. Then there's the calm, steady hand on the wheel while all his toss plays to TreVeyon Henderson and gadget plays like the double pass to Mack Hollins keep picking up 1st downs. 

But if I had to pick a personal favorite moment, I'm going with this. When Stefon Diggs asks if there's anything McDaniels wants to have echoed:

That's a nice reminder for anyone who questioned the wisdom of signing either one of these guys. Because there was no doubt between them. Because Diggs position coach was a fella who answers to the name Ben McDaniels. It's always good to have brothers in high places. 

So thanks to NFL Films. And congrats to Patriots fans everywhere. Your long, regional nightmare is over. Now if you'll forgive me, I need to light some candles, turn off the lights, slip into something comfortable, and enjoy this video a few dozen more times.