Josh McDaniels makes interesting admission about failed Broncos stint

Mar 2, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Josh McDaniels is one of a number of Bill Belichick assistants who struck out on his own as a head coach and wound up failing. It turns out that McDaniels knows that and thinks he may have leaned a bit too hard into his New England Patriots connection.

McDaniels made an interesting admission Thursday about his first stint as a head coach with the Denver Broncos in 2009 and 2010. The longtime Patriots offensive coordinator said he’d tried to emulate Belichick a bit too much, and it cost him. He’s being careful to take a different approach in his second chance as a head coach with the Las Vegas Raiders.

“I’m not Bill. I can’t be,” McDaniels admitted. “I’m just going to be myself and hopefully a good leader for this team.”

That’s important self-reflection on McDaniels’ part, one that too many ex-Patriots coaches don’t seem to do. He has made similar comments in the past, alluding to the fact that he was not much of a people person in Denver. Belichick certainly makes it work without being cuddly, but that is a much easier task when he can point to his resume and track record of success. McDaniels can’t do that, and people can chafe under that style of leadership when it isn’t backed with results.