Report: Ex-Patriots Offensive Coordinator Seeking NFL Return

Former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis is hoping to make a return to the NFL as an offensive coordinator.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Weis “would be interested” if the right situation were to become available. 

Schefter noted Weis is expected to generate interest from NFL teams after the regular season ends. 

Weis’ greatest success came during his five-year stint as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots from 2000-04. His collaboration with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady helped the team win three Super Bowls in a four-year span.

Here’s a look at what Schefter wrote in his piece about Weis and his potential return to an NFL sideline:

“Weis said if the right situation came along, he would be interested. He said he has his wife’s blessing, he has stayed in the game through jobs as a television analyst last year and Sirius Radio this past year, and he is up to date on the trends and players of the game.”

From Detroit’s perspective, they’ve been dealing with a struggling Jim Bob Cooter at offensive coordinator. At the time, Cooter was looked at as an advantage of the job, because Matthew Stafford had a good rapport with his coordinator, and the group’s problems from 2017 could be largely blamed on injuries up front and a non-existent running game. Patch those holes and things could really get going. This offseason, the Lions seemingly solved those problems with additions along the front and Kerryon Johnson. But as good as Johnson and the line have each been at times, it’s still the little things that hold the team back in terms of execution, scheme and play calling feel.

That’s squarely on Cooter, who in his third full year coordinating an offense still hasn’t seemed to understand the flow of the game. He goes away from things that work, namely utilizing Theo Riddick underneath, and never seems to come back to them until it’s beyond too late in a game. He struggles with how to use the run game properly, even in spite of having Johnson and LeGarrette Blount, seemingly a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield. And he’s been far too slow to help Kenny Golladay unlock his super potential.

In Kansas City, Weis coordinated the 12th total offense in his final season in the league, a total boosted by the fact that the Chiefs boasted the top rushing attack in the league. Their passing attack that year, however, placed 30th. It would be interesting to see if Weis, who’s been a pundit that’s appeared on television, would truly bring a relevant approach to the current NFL landscape.


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