McDaniels received 17 of 50 first-place votes and finished with 249 points, while Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph finished second with 10 first-place votes and 176 points. Other finalists included Eagles DC Vic Fangio, Vikings DC Brian Flores and Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak.
In his third career as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, McDaniels led an offense that improved from 30th in scoring last season (17.0 ppg) to second this year (28.8 PPG). Just 31st in passing yards in 2024 (292.0 yards per game), the 2025 Patriots were third (379.4 YPG) when McDaniels returned.
Let’s not forget how much of an impact McDaniels has had on the rise of sophomore quarterback Drake Maye, who is a finalist for AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and AP NFL MVP later Thursday night.
McDaniels, winner of six Super Bowls with the Patriots, has earned his first assistant coach of the year honor, also the first for the organization since the award’s inception in 2014.