For the coach who follows Bellichick, being the Patriots HC, will simultaneously be the best job in the league and the worst. The best in respects to the organization, support, and winning culture. The worst, in that you will have the impossible task of following a living icon, which by definition is unfair.
What we know for certain is that when that day finally comes, the next coach will either come from within, or be someone who formerly had a long term connection to the team. BB has established the "Patriot Way", when he goes he will be replaced by someone who is intimately familiar with what that means.
Initially I felt it would be McDaniel for sure. But the more I think about it, the more I see BB staying long term. As long as he is physically or mentally able, BB will want to coach. He LOVES it. There is no place he'd rather be than at a football practice individually coaching players. There's no burn out for him. He isn't looking forward to some media gig, golf and fishing. He's like Bear Bryant. He'll keep coaching till they force him from the field, and then die within a year.
No I think he'll be here too long for Josh to be a reasonable candidate. Josh would stay 4-5 years if he thought he'd be Bill's replacement. But I see Bill staying longer than that, and if that's true, McDaniel will eventually leave for his shot.
1. The Saban to NE rumors are simply ridiculous. Beyond all the other common sense reasons that would never happen, Saban is a year OLDER than BB. He's just not a candidate.
2. McDaniels to Cleveland talk is just as ridiculous. He wasn't hired to be here for one year. BB has no Bill Obrien waiting in the wings to replace him like last time. I am pretty sure that McDaniels is here for at least 3 years.....maybe longer.
3. The way I see it, it could be the next HC of the Patriots is some 25 year old unknown kid in the quality control department, getting coffee and picking up prospects from the airport, who in 10-15 years will be ready to take over.
