With so many changes happening in New England, Bill O’Brien’s move to Ohio State was reportedly more out of self-preservation than anything else.
In his latest column for The MMQB, Albert Breer revealed the series of factors that played a role in why O’Brien ultimately decided to leave to Foxborough for Columbus.
The Patriots will conduct interviews with Los Angeles Rams assistants Nick Caley and Zac Robinson on Monday and Tuesday for their open offensive coordinator job. And while both have Patriots ties, this is, indeed, a sign of how open-minded Jerod Mayo is going to be filling out his staff. That’s not to say Mayo won’t have trusted lieutenants [Belichick’s sons have strong relationships with Mayo, and both have job offers from him]. But it is indicative of how Mayo has not locked himself in on any ideas in any phase of the game. And why Bill O’Brien took the OC job at Ohio State rather than the chance to compete for a job he already had.
.@AlbertBreer’s divisional round MMQB column: How the 49ers finally won from behind, why the Chiefs’ defense made all the difference, Dan Campbell’s trust in Detroit and more https://t.co/utCfs1EJOr
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) January 22, 2024
Boston Sports Journal also reported that neither O’Brien nor the Patriots were very interested in continuing their working relationship but New England was “open” to the coach returning if contract negotiations hadn’t deteriorated.
This season went about as wrong as it possibly could’ve on offense so its not hard to imagine that this might be the best case scenario for both sides.