National Football League

McDaniels to take over as Patriots OC

Published Feb. 6, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has confirmed that Josh McDaniels will be the team's offensive coordinator next season.

McDaniels was brought in during the playoffs to serve as an ''offensive assistant.'' He was widely seen as the heir to offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, who had been hired to replace Joe Paterno at Penn State.

But it wasn't official until Belichick confirmed the move on Monday, a day after the Patriots lost 21-17 to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

McDaniels was the Patriots' offensive coordinator from 2006-08 until he left to become head coach of the Denver Broncos. He lasted just 28 games before he was fired with a 3-9 record in 2010. He was the offensive coordinator for the Rams this season.