Patriots’ assistant a popular candidate
After speaking to three NFL teams, Josh McDaniels spoke publicly.
Two days after sitting down with the 49ers, Rams and Jaguars, the Patriots’ offensive coordinator talked to New England reporters Monday and was asked about his marathon interview day.
“It’s humbling and it’s a privilege to have an opportunity to do any of those things,” McDaniels said. “Feel very fortunate to have even the opportunity to sit in front of those people — that they would listen to me and spend time with me.
“So just try to do the best you can. Represent yourself, your team your organization that you come from, your family, as best you can. And all the rest of it will play out how it’s supposed to play out.”
McDaniels, 40, has viewed the 49ers as the most attractive landing spot, a source told The Chronicle last week. It’s not known if the 49ers view McDaniels as the top option among their seven candidates, but this marks the third time they’ve contacted him over their past four head-coach searches. McDaniels declined an interview request in 2011 and met with the team in 2015.
Despite their 7-25 record over the past two seasons, the 49ers’ salary-cap space, draft capital and CEO Jed York’s stated commitment to patiently rebuilding with a new head coach and general manager made the opening appealing to McDaniels.
The Jaguars are no longer in the conversation regarding McDaniels. On Monday, they promoted interim head coach Doug Marrone to fill their full-time role.
Meanwhile, the Rams, coming off a 4-12 season, provide
more win-now pressure for their next head coach after their first year in Los Angeles did little to broaden their fan base. The Rams also don’t have the same 2017 draft resources as the 49ers: Last year, they surrendered their first- and third-round pick as part of a package to move up to No. 1 overall and draft quarterback Jared Goff, who had a disappointing rookie season.
The 49ers also would provide McDaniels, who has spent 13 of his 16 seasons in the NFL with the Patriots, a chance to join another marquee franchise, albeit one that has lost 29 of its past 37 games. The 49ers and Patriots are among six teams that have won at least four Super Bowls.
New England’s quest for their fifth Super Bowl title will begin when the Patriots host the Texans in a divisional playoff game Saturday night.
McDaniels said his experience makes it easy to transition from thinking about his coaching future to focusing on the Patriots’ present task.
“I think, honestly, we’ve been trained to switch gears and really tie our focus into the thing that is at hand,” he said. “And if it’s a work day, we know where our focus is going to lie. And (it’s) absolutely going to be on the Texans this week and looking forward to get ready to go.”
On Monday, the 49ers interviewed Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay and Carolina assistant general manager Brandon Beane for their openings. On Tuesday, they are scheduled to speak with Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and former NFL executive Louis Riddick, who is an ESPN analyst. NFL Network reported two Green Bay executives who interviewed Thursday as the current co-favorites to land the 49ers’ GM job: director of football operations Eliot Wolf and director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst.