McDaniels: No promises came with return

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In his first public comments since he declined at the last minute to accept the Indianapolis Colts’ head coaching position, Josh McDaniels denied Friday that he’d made any deal to succeed Bill Belichick as coach of the New England Patriots.

McDaniels listed several reasons for remaining in New England as Belichick’s offensive coordinator — some personal, some football-related.

“You know there’s a lot that goes into those things and it can be very complicated,” McDaniels said. “I’ve stated again and again that I definitely want to be a head coach again. At the same time, “I love being here. This is where my kids are born and raised and we’ve made a pretty special life here and that’s not an easy thing to leave. It was a difficult process and I’m very happy with the decision that we made.”

His role will continue to be calling plays and working with quarterback Tom Brady. “Whatever happens in the future’s going to happen,” he said. “I’ll be happy with whatever that is.”

McDaniels and the rest of the Patriots’ assistants spoke to reporters at Gillette Stadium on Friday for the first time since New England’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Feb. 4.

The Colts thought they had hired McDaniels two days later, tweeting out a welcome and even scheduling a news conference for the next day. Instead, McDaniels, who was coach of the Denver Broncos from 200910, changed his mind and returned to the Patriots for his 10th season as offensive coordinator.

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Josh McDaniels, pictured here on Feb. 4 prior to Super Bowl LII, decided at the last minute to reject an offer from Indianapolis to become their head coach.