Indianapolis Colts Officially Name Josh McDaniels Team’s Head Coach

Indianapolis Colts also turned to the Patriots to get their new head coach.

Josh McDaniels in 2017
Josh McDaniels with the Patriots in 2017. Photo by Eric Canha/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (8866470ai)

Indianapolis Colts officially confirmed that their new head coach will be former New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The Colts had to wait with the official confirmation until McDaniels finished his job with the Patriots in the Super Bowl LII. According to the team, McDaniels signed a 6-year deal with the Colts.

Josh McDaniels will replace Chuck Pagano, who was fired in December 2017, after spending six seasons with the team. According to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, McDaniels already started putting together his team. Dallas Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus will join the Colts as the defensive coordinator while Patriots assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski and Miami Dolphins offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmois are also expected to assume roles in the team’s coaching staff.

McDaniels started his coaching career as graduate assistant at Michigan State University in 1999, working under Nick Saban. He joined the New England Patriots as a personnel assistant in 2001, later serving as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator until 2008. In 2009, he replaced Mike Shanahan as Denver Broncos head coach and started the season with six straight wins. The Broncos lost eight out of their next 10 games and narrowly missed the playoffs. In 2010 season, McDaniels compiled a 3-8 record, before getting fired. After serving as OC and QB coach at St. Louis Rams in 2011, he returned to the New England Patriots the following year. This made McDaniels the only member of the coaching staff besides Bill Belichick to be a part of all five Patriots’ Super Bowl wins.

With the Indianapolis Colts, Josh McDaniels faces a challenge to get the team back to the playoffs after three seasons drought. He will have $85 million in salary-cap space and the third overall pick in 2018 NFL Draft, but the most important key to his success will be the health of quarterback Andrew Luck who missed the entire 2017 season recovering from a shoulder injury.

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