5 possible replacements for Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy

2. Josh McDaniels

Josh McDaniels’ 11-17 record over less than two seasons (2009-2010) as head coach of the Denver Broncos is a distant memory at this point, as he’s rehabbed his value on the coaching market under the wing of Bill Belichick over the last five seasons.

Having Tom Brady to work with will make any offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach look good, and Belichick’s coaching tree has not done well with head coaching opportunities. But amid the Patriots’ 3-1 start without Brady this season, McDaniels was able to coax winning production out of Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett with a different offensive approach. That adaptability is the sign of a good coach, even though now with Brady back under center the Patriots’ offense is surely back to largely being in the quarterback’s hands.

McCarthy’s message, publicly and likely privately as well, is clearly wearing on Rodgers most prominently. So a fresh perspective is needed in Green Bay as soon as possible, one way or another, while Rodgers still has some peak years left. McDaniels obviously has a lot of experience working with a future Hall of Fame quarterback, and he’s still just 40 years old. The fit seems clear for Green Bay, and the opportunity should be right from McDaniels’ end if he wants another shot at being a head coach.