Josh McDaniels
Coaching Record
| Years Coached | Record | Win % | Playoff record | Playoff win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 234-124-0 | 65.36% | 30-10 | 75.00% |
Coaching Tree
Parents:
Children:
Mike McCoy, Adam Gase, Antonio Pierce
Biography
Table of Contents
Career Summary
Josh McDaniels was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 2001 to 2023, finishing his career as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Over his twenty-three years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 253-134-0. During his career he was a head coach for four seasons, first with the Denver Broncos. He led the Broncos for two seasons, compiling a record of 12-20-0. He was fired from the Broncos on Monday, December 6, 2010. His next head coaching stint was with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022 to 2023, as he led the team to a 14-20-0 record. He was fired from the Raiders on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 26-40-0 across four seasons.
Career Awards
As the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots he coached two players to award-winning seasons: Tom Brady, AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2007; Tom Brady, Most Valuable Player in 2007; Rob Gronkowski, Comeback Player of the Year in 2014; Tom Brady, Most Valuable Player in 2017.
Josh McDaniels Coaching Tree
Before he was a head coach, McDaniels served as an assistant coach for Bill Belichick and Steve Spagnuolo. Eighteen of these years were spent on Belichick's coaching staff. During his time as head coach, three assistant coaches, (Mike McCoy, Adam Gase, and Antonio Pierce) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 61-97-0 in the regular season and 1-2 in the playoffs during their ten seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs.
Personal Information
McDaniels was born on Wednesday, April 21, 1976 in Barberton, Ohio. McDaniels younger brother is Ben McDaniels. The pair coached together in Denver when Josh was the head coach.
Table of Contents
Early Career
At the conclusion of McDaniels’ college playing career for John Carroll University, McDaniels spent two seasons coaching college. McDaniel’s father, Thom, is one of the most respected high school coaches in the nation, and McDaniels was able to use his father’s friendship with then-Michigan State coach Nick Saban to receive a spot on Saban’s coaching staff. McDaniels would spend two seasons coaching for Michigan State, one season for Saban and one season for Bobby Williams. At the conclusion of the 2000 season, McDaniels would take a job with the New England Patriots, coached by Saban’s mentor Bill Belichick.
New England Patriots
In 2000, McDaniels worked as a personnel assistant for the scouting department for the Patriots. In this role, he helped breakdown film and complete scouting reports for the defensive staff. After one season in the scouting department, McDaniels role with the team would change to defensive staff assistant. After working with the defensive staff for his first three seasons, McDaniels would return to the offensive side of the ball where he spent his college career.
In 2004, McDaniels would draw the assignment of coaching the quarterbacks. By the time McDaniels was the quarterbacks coach, Tom Brady, the Patriots quarterback, had already established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, but under McDaniels took his career to new heights. In the first four seasons of working with McDaniels, Brady would have his four best statistical years.
In 2006, McDaniels added offensive coordinator to his coaching duties. After a record breaking 2007 season, in which Brady would throw for a record 50 touchdowns and the team would go 18-1, many expected McDaniels to take a head coaching position somewhere. However, he would return for one more season. In 2008, he had the difficult task of keeping the offense going after Brady would tear his ACL in Week 1. Filling in for Brady was Matt Cassel, a former 7th round pick who hadn’t started a game since high school. However, without Brady, the team still achieved a 11-5 record, but would fall short of the playoffs.
Denver Broncos
After the 2008 season, McDaniels would replace the fired Mike Shannahan as head coach of the Denver Broncos. When he was hired, McDaniels was the youngest head coach in any of the major North American Sports, and the fifth youngest in NFL history. He would start to instantly make over the roster as he attempted to trade for Cassel. This move would upset the incumbent quarterback Jay Cutler, who would then request a trade. When no deal happened to get Cassel, Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Kyle Orton and draft picks.
The Broncos surprised many in 2009 by starting 6-0 behind McDaniels and Orton. However, the team would struggle later in the season to finish with an 8-8 record and miss the playoffs. In the upcoming draft, McDaniels would draft quarterback Tim Tebow of Florida, a move that was highly questioned at the time. Also during the offseason was the second high profile Bronco to be traded during McDaniels tenure. This time, wide receiver Brandon Marshall, was trade to the Miami Dolphins for two second round draft picks. The 2010 season was worse than the previous season, as the team would struggle early and never find its step. The team would fire McDaniels with four games to go with the team at a 3-9 record.
St. Louis Rams
In 2011, McDaniels would take the offensive coordinator position for the St. Louis Rams vacated by new Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur. The Rams were coming off a respectable 2010 season when quarterback Sam Bradford was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. However, the team struggled to a 2-14 season as a result of injuries. At the end of 2011, the Rams would fire many coaches and front office personnel. McDaniels, now released from his contract, returned to coaching the Patriots during their playoff run.
Return to the Patriots
After leaving the Rams, he returned as an offensive assistant for the playoff bound Patriots. The season ended in disappointment for the Patriots, fell short of a Super Bowl victory. With offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien leaving the team to take the head coaching position with Penn State, McDaniels was promoted to his old position of Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks coach. Over the next six seasons, the Patriots averaged more than 12 wins a season with an AFC East championship each season. The Patriots also won the Super Bowl following the 2014 and 2016 seasons.
The 2016 season featured McDaniels most difficult coaching situation of his career. Starting quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for the first four games of the season, forcing untested backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to start the season. However, Garoppolo suffered a shoulder injury in the second game and rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett started the next two games until Brady returned. Despite the setbacks to his quarterback platoon, McDaniels’ quarterbacks set the record for most passing attempts to start a season without an interception (251).
After the 2017 season, McDaniels accepted an offer from the Indianapolis Colts to be their new head coach. However, he backed out and returned to the Patriots.
History
| Year | Position | Record | Playoff record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Las Vegas Raiders | Head Coach | 3-5-0 | 0-0 |
| 2022 Las Vegas Raiders | Head Coach | 6-11-0 | 0-0 |
| 2021 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 10-7-0 | 0-1 |
| 2020 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator | 7-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2019 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 12-4-0 | 0-1 |
| 2018 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 11-5-0 | 3-0 |
| 2017 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 13-3-0 | 2-1 |
| 2016 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 14-2-0 | 3-0 |
| 2015 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 12-4-0 | 1-1 |
| 2014 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 12-4-0 | 3-0 |
| 2013 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 12-4-0 | 1-1 |
| 2012 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 12-4-0 | 1-1 |
| 2011 New England Patriots | Offensive Assistant Coach | 0-0-0 | 2-1 |
| 2011 St. Louis Rams | Offensive Coordinator | 2-14-0 | 0-0 |
| 2010 Denver Broncos | Head Coach | 3-9-0 | 0-0 |
| 2009 Denver Broncos | Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 2008 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 11-5-0 | 0-0 |
| 2007 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 16-0-0 | 2-1 |
| 2006 New England Patriots | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach | 12-4-0 | 2-1 |
| 2005 New England Patriots | Quarterbacks Coach | 10-6-0 | 1-1 |
| 2004 New England Patriots | Quarterbacks Coach | 14-2-0 | 3-0 |
| 2003 New England Patriots | Defensive Assistant Coach | 14-2-0 | 3-0 |
| 2002 New England Patriots | Defensive Assistant Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 2001 New England Patriots | Personnel Assistant | 11-5-0 | 3-0 |
| 2000 Michigan State Spartans | Graduate Assistant | 5-6-0 | |
| 1999 Michigan State Spartans | Graduate Assistant | 10-2-0 |
Coach history guide
| Seasons with a championship win | Seasons with a conference championship |
Coach facts
- Years as head coach: 4
- Years as a coordinator: 14
- Championships won: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018
- Conference Championships won: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018
- Past teams coached for: Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos
- College Attended: John Carroll Blue Streaks
- Date of Birth: Wednesday, April 21, 1976 (48 years old), Barberton, Ohio
- McDaniels signed a 5-year contract extension before the 2018 season with a salary of $4 million a year