Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien against the Kansas City Chiefs in a AFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots bring back Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach

Former Houston Texans head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien is returning to the NFL.

O’Brien is rejoining the Patriots as the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, reuniting with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones.

The Patriots and O’Brien agreed to a contract on Tuesday based on reports from multiple outlets. O’Brien first resigned his post as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, a job he held the past two seasons, to step back into the roles he held in New England before leaving in 2011 to become head coach at Penn State.

New England operated without a named coordinator in 2022 and production declined massively. The Patriots dipped from 48 touchdowns in Jones’ rookie season to 31 last season.

Part of O’Brien’s indoctrination at Alabama was learning the existing system from Jones, the outgoing quarterback preparing for the NFL draft. Jones was selected in the first round by the Patriots.

O’Brien, 53, was selected over an interview pool of candidates for offensive coordinator that included Minnesota Vikings wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell and Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach Shawn Jefferson.

O’Brien was first hired in New England in 2007 as a coaching assistant with the Patriots. He coached quarterbacks and became offensive coordinator before stints at Penn State (2012-13) and as head coach of the Houston Texans (2014-2020).

–Field Level Media contributed to this story.

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