The New England Patriots faced a twist in their offensive coordinator search, originally planning to interview Cincinnati Bengals quarterback coach Dan Pitcher for the position. However, the landscape changed with former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan securing the head coaching job with the Tennessee Titans. Consequently, Pitcher is now set to step into the offensive coordinator role, remaining with the Bengals.
This development leaves the Patriots revisiting their options, with Zac Robinson and Nick Caley resurfacing as top candidates in the ongoing search. Robinson, in particular, stands out as a popular possibility, prompting the Patriots to potentially expedite their decision-making process to avoid missing out on another coach.
Following the mutual parting of ways between the Patriots and longtime head coach Bill Belichick after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl championships, questions arose about the job status of Bill O’Brien. The offensive struggles of the 2023 season intensified the speculation. However, O’Brien had already made a decisive move, accepting a position as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, concluding his tenure with the Patriots after just one season.
In Pitcher’s case, the decision to stay with the Bengals seems understandable, given his familiarity with the system and the prospect of working with quarterback Joe Burrow once again. Meanwhile, the Patriots currently face uncertainty at the quarterback position, with Mac Jones’ future with the team in question.
The search for the challenging offensive coordinator position in New England continues, and it remains to be seen who will step in to navigate the team through this transitional phase.