Bill O’Brien reportedly wanted a fresh start when taking over as the New England Patriots offensive coordinator. However, Bill Belichick overruled him.
The Patriots brought back O’Brien after ranking No. 26 in total offense last season. They have fared even worse this season, going 4-12 with the fifth-fewest yards and an NFL-worst 14.6 points per game.
According to the Boston Herald‘s Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed, Belichick wanted to retain Matt Patricia as his offensive play-caller. He “relented” to owner Robert Kraft’s desire for change and re-hired O’Brien from Alabama.
Callahan and Kyed claimed Belichick rejected O’Brien’s pitch for a coaching overhaul.
“According to league sources, some assistants came to believe O’Brien wanted to clean house and build his own offensive staff upon arriving in January, but Belichick denied him,” the Herald reported. “Belichick allowed one hire, [Will] Lawing, who replaced ex-tight ends coach Nick Caley. To onlookers, a clear hierarchy developed with O’Brien and his assistants: there was Lawing and assistant quarterbacks coach Evan Rothstein, then everyone else.”
The most dysfunctional #Patriots season in 30 years should have been rock bottom.
It wasn’t.
From more than a dozen team sources, the inside story of how a broken Patriots offense sunk another season and perhaps the Bill Belichick era. (with @DougKyed)https://t.co/iya0eJCGWH pic.twitter.com/dDme5ikLSI
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) January 4, 2024
A team source called the staffing situation “completely f—-d.”
O’Brien reportedly grew frustrated with wide receivers and offensive line coaches before training camp. He “pulled the offense closer to him” with more meetings for the entire offense and fewer positional meetings.
The story also questioned the integrity of New England’s hiring process. O’Brien was reportedly the only one of five candidates interviewed with coordinator experience, and three of the other people interviewed previously played for Belichick.
New England will close the regular season, in what could potentially be Belichick’s final game, when hosting the New York Jets this Sunday.