Josh McDaniels’ latest return to New England ended with hardware in hand.
The longtime Patriots offensive coordinator was named the 2025 AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year on Thursday night ahead of NFL Honors at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, earning the award for the first time in his career.
McDaniels topped a strong field of finalists, collecting 17 of 50 first-place votes and finishing with 249 points. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph placed second with 176 points, followed by Vikings DC Brian Flores, Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak and Eagles DC Vic Fangio.
In his third stint running the Patriots’ offense, McDaniels engineered one of the league’s most dramatic turnarounds. New England jumped from 30th in the NFL in scoring a season ago at 17.0 points per game to second in 2025 at 28.8. The improvement was just as striking in yardage, with the Patriots climbing from 31st in 2024 (292.0 yards per game) to third this season (379.4).
McDaniels’ influence extended beyond the numbers, playing a central role in the continued development of second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who emerged as a finalist for both AP Offensive Player of the Year and AP MVP.
Already a six-time Super Bowl champion with New England, McDaniels’ honor marks the first Assistant Coach of the Year award for both him and the Patriots since the category was introduced in 2014.
