Report: Bill O'Brien emerging as target for NFL offensive coordinator job

After reporting the Las Vegas Raiders’ interest in New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, ESPN’s Adam Schefter threw out a name as a potential replacement. It’s a name Patriots fans are familiar with, too.

Schefter lists Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien as a potential replacement if McDaniels ends up with the Raiders. O’Brien worked for the Patriots from 2007-11, working his way up from offensive analyst to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The Raiders requested to interview McDaniels on Thursday, according to Schefter. He’s been Bill Belichick’s offensive coordinator since 2012 — appropriately, succeeding O’Brien. McDaniels has come up in coaching circles over the years and, in 2018, famously withdrew from the Indianapolis Colts search the same day they announced his hiring.

O’Brien just wrapped up his first season as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and played a major role in Bryce Young’s development. Young became the first Crimson Tide quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy and led Alabama to the national championship. He led the SEC with 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns this year to help Alabama to a No. 1 ranking in the final CFP rankings.

As a unit, Alabama’s offense ranked No. 2 in the country with 7,323 total yards this season. That sat just behind Western Kentucky, which totaled 7,507 yards in 2021.

O’Brien has interviewed for NFL jobs this offseason, including in Jacksonville with the Jaguars. However, a Thursday update shed some light on how that interview went. It doesn’t sound good.

New info on the Bill O’Brien, Jacksonville Jaguars interview revealed

Apparently, Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien didn’t have a great interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Reporter Jason La Canfora shared on Thursday that Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke had “hitched his wagon” to the former Houston Texans head coach, as well as new Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus. However, a supposed “rough” interview ended that conversation.

Now, it sounds like Baalke’s time in north Florida could be running out. “Lot of rumblings Baalke would be gone by the draft. Perhaps it’s sooner,” La Canfora added.

The Jaguars seem to be closing in on hiring former star Byron Leftwich away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, there are mixed reports surrounding the impending nature of the deal. The New Orleans Saints requested to interview Leftwich on Thursday, further complicating matters.

Bill O’Brien led Alabama’s offense to the national title game. The Crimson tide ranked 6th in scoring offense with O’Brien and Nick Saban, however, the Bulldogs held them to 18 points to take the championship.