The coach many fans wanted to lead the New England Patriots’ offense this season reportedly is mulling a return to the pros.
Bill O’Brien, who currently is the offensive coordinator at Alabama, is “considering NFL options,” The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz reported Sunday.
O’Brien was the Patriots’ OC in 2011 and their offensive play-caller in 2009 and 2010, and he was viewed as a natural candidate to replace Josh McDaniels when McDaniels left last offseason to take over the Las Vegas Raiders.
New England ultimately did not pursue O’Brien, reportedly due to a combination of loyalty to Alabama head coach Nick Saban and the fear that O’Brien could leave for a head-coaching job after one season.