Alabama Football: Bill O’Brien may pass on New England

Alabama football fans are so done with Bill O’Brien, not many are concerned about his next gig. When his contract expires in a few weeks, it is a foregone conclusion, O’Brien will officially be a former Alabama Football, Offensive Coordinator.

From a broader view, when former coaches move on and succeed elsewhere, it boosts the reputation of the Alabama Crimson Tide program. Not many Alabama fans were disappointed when Brian Daboll left Tuscaloosa after a single season in 2017. Now as the head coach of the New York Giants, some are saying Daboll should be the NFL Coach of the Year.

Thinking about Coach of the Year honors provides some faded Bill O’Brien history. As Penn State, Head Coach, he was college football’s Coach of the Year in 2012.

Given O’Brien’s considerable history with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, many have believed O’Brien would return to the NFL with the Pats. Mike Giardi of the NFL Network believes the Patriots want O’Brien to return.

"There is one very influential voice in upper management who definitively wants Bill O’Brien as the OC."

The Patriots have more problems than needing a new Offensive Coordinator. Giardi also pointed out the New England organization understands it must come up with at least one game-changing addition at wide receiver. The need may become a clear two, if the Pats’ top wide receiver, Jakobi Meyers leaves the team through free agency.

If for no other reason, Alabama football fans likely want the Patriots’ next Offensive Coordinator to be a good one, for the sake of Mac Jones.

But there may be a stumbling block in Foxboro. Danny Jaillet of Patriots Wire reports Bill O’Brien may not want to work for Bill Belichick again. According to Jaillet, what could prove to be a deal-breaker is O’Brien wants more autonomy than Belichick is willing to give.

Jaillet’s source is Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal, who wrote,

"He (O’Brien) checks all the boxes — knows the system, can coach the QB, has a relationship with (Mac) Jones, is not an outsider — and has probably learned a few new-age tricks in the college game. Last I heard, and this can change as quickly as the Patriots’ policy on commenting on contracts, he was not gung-ho about this gig due to the lack in clarity about the setup. If Belichick told O’Brien he had autonomy, including over assistants, that might make it more attractive."

Maybe it will come down to who needs who more. Stubbornness on either or both sides could end discussions.