The Pats have stopped being side characters. They want to be the protagonist they were before. The role that the Chiefs have been playing for the last few seasons. After Tom Brady left the team, nothing good came their way. And this year? Oh, don’t even ask. What a horrible nightmare this season has been for the team. Finishing 4th in the AFC East. With Mike Vrabel as the head coach, there’s a fresh sense of hope in the air. The team isn’t wasting any time; they’ve got to work, rebuilding their empire from scratch. So, what’s new for the Patriots?

Their former OC, Josh McDaniels, is back with the team once again. Yeah! Uplifting their spirits after a disappointing season, the Pats are ready to bounce back. And McDaniels has set two goals for Drake Maye and the O-line. And those are, “Offense only takes the field for one reason and that’s to try to put points on the board. So our number one goal will be to take care of it and the second part of that is going to be to score as much as we can.” That reflects his focus.

This is Josh McDaniels’ third time with the team, but the first time he’ll be working under Mike Vrabel (a twist that feels a little like fate, doesn’t it?). McDaniels first joined the Patriots in 2001 as a personnel assistant. (Back when flip phones were still a thing if that puts it in perspective). And quickly moved up to a defensive coaching assistant role the following year. Over the next eight seasons, he helped the team secure three Super Bowl wins. Back then, Vrabel was out there playing as the team’s linebacker, while Josh was doing his thing behind the scenes. Fast forward a decade, and now they’re back together -this time on the same side of the coach’s clipboard. It’s one of those full-circle moments that makes you appreciate the journey.

As the two join forces again, the next step will be to fill in the other coaching positions with the best possible options.

Mike Vrabel still has more work to do after hiring Josh McDaniels

HC Mike Vrabel’s work is far from over (he’s just getting started). They picked Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator and brought in Terrell Williams, the former Lions defensive line coach, to handle the defense. Now, Vrabel’s next mission is filling those crucial position coach spots for both the offensive and defensive lines. And let’s be real, that’s not going to be a walk in the park. Robert Kraft has set some pretty high expectations for Vrabel, and we all know he’s not the type to back down from a challenge. It’s clear Vrabel’s got a lot on his plate, but you better believe he’s hungry to prove he can rise to the occasion.

The Pats seriously need to bring in someone who can beef up their O-line and defensive line—those areas are looking rough. And let’s be real. Vrabel can’t have Josh doing it all. He’s already got his hands full working with QB Drake Maye. The QB’s only 22 and has a lot to prove in the league. And it’s going to be Josh’s job to help him get there.

When talking about Vrabel rebuilding the team, New England Patriots insider Phil Perry said, “He’s (Josh McDaniels) got a young quarterback to develop. That should keep him pretty freaking busy. He’s got game plans that he’s got to draw up.” It’s pretty simple—the more Josh works with QB Maye, the better it’ll be for the team. But for that to happen, Vrabel needs to make sure everyone else is doing their part too. So, he’s still on the lookout for the right people to fill the gaps. It’ll be interesting to see who he brings in and what fresh ideas they’ve got to help the Pats get back on track.