Patriots look ready to bring a familiar face home from college football world

The New England Patriots are poised to give it the old college try by targeting Alabama’s Bill O’Brien to be their next offensive coordinator.

Do not be shocked if the New England Patriots are the ones who bring Bill O’Brien back into the NFL.

After a two-year run as the Alabama Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator, it seems as though O’Brien will be back in the league in no time. O’Brien may have been Bryce Young’s offensive coordinator during his 2021 Heisman Trophy-winning campaign, but one could easily argue Alabama is coming off a two-year lull for its offensively high standards. So O’Brien had to go…

Regardless, O’Brien appears to be the top candidate to take over the reins of the Patriots offense.

Bill O’Brien is the big favorite to be New England Patriots offensive coordinator

According to Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston, their “primary target is former Patriots OC, former Penn State and Texans head coach, former Alabama OC Bill O’Brien.” Curran also cites that his familiarity with both the Patriots organization, as well as Mac Jones’ ties to Alabama, would make this a massive upset if O’Brien is not named the next offensive coordinator for New England.

While the Patriots clearly have something in Jones, it is apparent he will only be as good as his offensive coordinator. He thrived under Steve Sarkisian at Alabama in 2020, as well as under Josh McDaniels’ watch in 2021. With an island of misfit toys running the show in 2022, Jones regressed during his sophomore slump. New England missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Does O’Brien have his critics? Absolutely, but he has had success everywhere else he has been previously. The greatest head coach in Houston Texans history is a candidate down the road to lead his own NFL team in the near future. It starts by getting reacquainted with the NFL game. Should the Patriots offense improve drastically under his watch, O’Brien should get his own team.

O’Brien is not for everyone, but he is exactly what the Patriots need from an offensive coordinator.

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