Bengals request interview with Patriots OC Josh McDaniels

We have our first major coaching candidate that the Bengals want to interview.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cincinnati is requesting an interview with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

For the past few years, McDaniels has been viewed as a prime coaching candidate. He briefly accepted the Colts’ head-coaching position this past offseason, only to back out due to, among other things, concern over Andrew Luck’s long-term health, as well as working with owner Jim Irsay, one of the NFL’s most volatile owners.

The Patriots also sweetened McDaniels’ deal to persuade him to stay in New England. There was also speculation that McDaniels is in line to replace Bill Belichick if he retires in the coming years.

McDaniels has served as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2012. He’s coached what’s annually been one of the NFL’s best offenses, though a lot of that has to do with future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

McDaniels was previously the Rams’ offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2011 under head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was fired in 2012, which led to a reunion with the Patriots.

McDaniels has actually been a head coach before, though it was a forgettable stint with the Broncos from 2009-10, which you can read about here.

The Packers have also requested an interview with McDaniels, and you can bet other NFL teams will as well. The Bengals have a lot of work to do if they’re going to poach McDaniels from the Patriots and hold offer other NFL teams to land his services.