Josh McDaniels 'A Natural Fit' With Patriots If OC Bill O'Brien Takes Job Elsewhere

While former Denver Broncos head coach and current St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels name has been rumored in some form and fashion to the Kansas City Chiefs, might the New England Patriots be his new destination. The NFL Network's Jason La Canfora believes that McDaniels would be a top choice:

If Bill O'Brien leaves New England for a college or pro job, I'd expect Josh McDaniels to be a natural fit there

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 1, 2012

O'Brien has emerged as a leading candidate for the Penn State head coaching job on Sunday morning after Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak took his name out of the running (he's a former Penn State player).

McDaniels, of course, would need to be fired by the St. Louis Rams, which is expected to happen as part of a house cleaning that will start with dismissing head coach Steve Spagnuolo. However, McDaniels could land with the Chiefs because of his connection with Scott Pioli from their days in New England. Or could the tug of his old mentor bring him back home?

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Josh McDaniels Rumors Rise Once Again With KC Chiefs' Head Coach Todd Haley Potentially On Hot Seat

Is former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels in play for the Kansas City Chiefs should head coach Todd Haley be dismissed at the end of the season? That is the speculation right now, according to Dan Pompei of the National Football Post. The rumors crop up about this because the team's general manager is Scott Pioli, formerly of the New England Patriots, also the home of McDaniels before he was the coach of the Broncos. Right now, McDaniels is the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams, a team without much of an offense.

The Chiefs have gone through three phases so far this season. First, there was the three-game losing streak that put Todd Haley on the hot seat. A four-game winning streak made that disappear, but since the start of November, the Chiefs have been in phase three: a 1-4 stretch that includes a four-game losing streak.

The losses of Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles at the beginning of the season, the hand injury that ended Matt Cassel's season and the reliance on Tyler Palko as the starting quarterback have all contributed to this. While the team did beat the Chicago Bears last week, 10-3, they faced a Jay Cutler- and Matt Forte-less Bears squad.

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