Does Bill O’Brien want to return to the National Football League?
Alabama fans want answers to the question as the New England Patriots are interested in him.
RELATED: Nick Saban doesn’t believe Bill O’Brien wants to leave Alabama
Nick Saban said Wednesday that O’Brien likes it in Tuscaloosa, and he does not see him leaving, but the conversations keep growing about the 52-year-old reuniting with Bill Belichick.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said ‘mutual interest’ is between the Patriots and O’Brien.
There’s mutual interest between the #Patriots and Bill O’Brien to join the staff, per @RapSheet on @GreshKeefe
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 3, 2022
Mac Jones loses the offensive coordinator/QB coach and the assistant quarterback coach from his rookie season. That’s not ideal.
Mick Lombardi has experience coaching QBs so that’s an option. If I’m the Patriots, I’m going hard after Bill O’Brien https://t.co/TJkRwZKkVg
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) February 3, 2022
Rapoport was on Gresh and Keefe, a sports talk show via WEEI 93.7 FM out of Boston, discussing his thoughts on O’Brien to New England. He said the NFL’s hiring process ‘is slow,’ but he said there is interest from the Patriots and O’Brien for the franchise.
There’s mutual interest between the #Patriots and Bill O’Brien to join the staff, per @RapSheet on @GreshKeefe
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 3, 2022
Per Rapoport, New England is slow in staffing coaches.
He sees the Patriots closing a deal on O’Brien, but it may not happen quickly. The Patriots lost another offensive assistant in Bo Hardegree to the Las Vegas Raiders. He served as the assistant quarterbacks’ coach to Josh McDaniels in helping rookie quarterback Mac Jones. National media sees the Patriots getting O’Brien as the best scenario for Jones and the offense for next season.
The #Raiders are hiring Bo Hardegree as their new QBs coach, source said. An offensive assistant for the #Patriots and Josh McDaniels, he has previously served as QBs coach for the #Dolphins.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2022
O’Brien did some good things for the Crimson Tide in 2021, but he has a decision to make.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
