INDIANAPOLIS – For the second-straight winter Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels interviewed for vacant head coaching jobs across the league. A year ago he smartly chose not to pursue the Cleveland job, while this January he spent time talking with the Falcons and 49ers.
Though the Atlanta job eventually went to Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, whom McDaniels' Patriots offense got the better of in Super Bowl XLIX, clearly the Falcons front office saw plenty it liked in the New England assistant.
Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff worked together with McDaniels previously in New England, and doesn't think the former Broncos head coach has seen the last of running his own team.
"Josh McDaniels, I have a great deal of respect for him, not only him as person and a football coach, also his intelligence level and his creativity," Dimitroff said. "There are so many things. I have no doubt in my mind that Josh McDaniels will be a head coach in this league again. I think that he can be a very successful head coach in this league. Our decision to continue to go out in the process and eventually hire Dan is something that we felt was best for this organization. We are incredibly excited about Dan.
"With Josh, I wish him all of the luck. I think he's going to do great things in the league."
