Tag: Bill O’Brien

Sep 2, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) speaks with head coach Bill O'Brien before the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Boston College benches QB Thomas Castellanos ahead of SMU clash

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien said he’s benching starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos, with Grayson James to start Saturday against No. 13 SMU instead.

The Eagles (5-4, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) have three remaining games and need one win to become bowl eligible.

O’Brien said that Castellanos has decided to take a few days away from the team in the wake of the coach’s decision.

“Tommy has done a great job for us,” O’Brien said Tuesday. “He’s an awesome competitor. We have a lot of respect for Tommy. Obviously, he wasn’t real thrilled.”

After Castellanos limped off the field early in the third quarter last Saturday against Syracuse with an apparent leg injury, he was replaced by James. The sub was 5-of-6 passing for 51 yards and a touchdown but managed an offense that gained 313 rushing yards in the 37-31 win.

Castellanos was 2-of-7 passing for 14 yards with a touchdown and interception when he came out of the Syracuse game.

“I think what’s best for the team right now is for Grayson James to be the starter,” O’Brien said.

Castellanos played in 13 games (12 starts) in 2023 and totaled 2,248 passing yards and 1,113 rushing yards to become the first 2,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher in Boston College history.

This season, he has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,366 yards with 18 TDs and five interceptions. He’s added 194 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

James, a fellow junior, is in his first season with the Eagles after transferring from Florida International.

In limited action with the Eagles, he has completed 24 of 38 pass attempts for 219 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

“He was very poised (against Syracuse),” O’Brien said about James. “There was a couple things he’d like to have back like all of us, coaches and players alike. But, overall, he played a solid game and was instrumental in helping us win the game.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien talks with quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) as they take on the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Bill O’Brien heading to Boston College as head coach

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Former Houston Texans and Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien and Boston College reportedly are putting the finishing touches on a deal to make him the Eagles’ next football coach.

O’Brien, a Massachusetts native, most recently was the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. He accepted the same position at Ohio State last month.

The 54-year-old O’Brien was hired at Ohio State to take over the play-calling duties from head coach Ryan Day. Presuming O’Brien seals the deal with Boston College, UCLA head coach Chip Kelly reportedly will be named the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator.

O’Brien’s family is rooted in the Boston area and planned to remain there while O’Brien was in Columbus, ESPN reported.

O’Brien will replace Jeff Hafley, who recently was hired as the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

The Eagles finished 7-6 in 2023 and are getting a coach with a blue-chip pedigree.

O’Brien worked on Bill Belichick’s staff with the Patriots from 2007-11 and was quarterbacks coach to Tom Brady. He left to take over at Penn State in 2012 and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year.

From 2014-20, he led the Texans to the playoffs four times.

As for Ohio State, Kelly and Day have a longstanding relationship that began when Kelly was the offensive coordinator at New Hampshire with Day as his quarterback there from 1999-2001.

Kelly, 60, led Oregon to three Pac-12 championships as the Ducks head coach from 2009-12 and compiled an 46-7 record. He headed to the NFL in 2013, spending three seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and one at the helm of the San Francisco 49ers with a 28-35 overall record.

He became UCLA’s head coach in 2018 and has a 35-34 record with the Bruins.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day watches during the second quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against the Missouri Tigers at AT&T Stadium.

Ohio State awaiting final word on Bill O’Brien status

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Ohio State coach Ryan Day hired Bill O’Brien as his offensive coordinator this offseason, entrusting him to call plays for the Buckeyes in the 2024 season.

And Day is proceeding with that plan until he hears otherwise.

O’Brien, the former head coach of the Houston Texans and Penn State, is a top contender for the recently opened head-coaching job at Boston College, interviewing earlier this week. Day told reporters O’Brien was on campus in Columbus and at work on Wednesday.

He said he had “no update” about O’Brien’s future with the program, although ESPN reported Boston College is expected to name a head coach this week. Day has a Plan B should O’Brien, his hand-picked choice to relieve him of play-calling duties, depart.

“It isn’t just one of those situations where you take out one guy and put another guy in there and move on,” Day said. “It doesn’t work that way. But yes, we talked to different people for that position, and we have contingency plans in place. Hopefully, we don’t have to go down that road, though.”

Day also addressed a problem most college coaches would love to have entering spring practice: a glut of quarterbacks.

Following the transfer of last year’s starter, Kyle McCord,” Day said he anticipates a “fierce competition” at the position.

The Buckeyes have in their quarterback room Will Howard, an experienced transfer from Kansas State; returnees Devin Brown and Lincoln Kienholz; and Julian Sayin and Air Noland, incoming freshmen ranked as the No. 3 and No. 7 quarterbacks, respectively, in the 2024 class by 247Sports.

The youngsters will try to push the veteran Howard.

“Will came here to play football, so I hope that’s his mentality, and I hope all the guys have that mentality,” Day said. “He’s got to learn the offense and get going.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 25, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien talks with quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: BC set to hire Bill O’Brien as head coach

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Boston College is finalizing a deal with Bill O’Brien to make him the next head coach of the Eagles, multiple outlets reported Monday.

The sides are hammering out the final details, according to reports from Sports Illustrated and the Boston Herald. An announcement is expected by Wednesday, per the reports.

O’Brien, 54, a Boston native, would replace Jeff Hafley, who left BC to become the new defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers last week.

O’Brien was offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots last season but was out of a job when Bill Belichick stepped down. O’Brien was hired by Ohio State as OC and quarterbacks coach on Jan. 18.

It would mark O’Brien’s third foray as a head coach. He replaced the legendary Joe Paterno at Penn State, going 15-9 in two seasons before taking the head coaching post with the Houston Texans. He went 52-48 in six-plus seasons before getting fired after an 0-4 start in 2020.

He went on to be the OC at Alabama under Nick Saban, where the Crimson Tide averaged 39.9 and 41.1 points per game in his two seasons.

Hafley was 22-26 in four seasons at Boston College, going 7-6 in 2023, including a win over No. 22 SMU in the Fenway Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Aug 25, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien talks with quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State reportedly hires Bill O’Brien to run offense

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ohio State is on the verge of hiring Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator, multiple outlets reported.

He is expected to take over play-calling from head coach Ryan Day and also mentor Buckeyes’ quarterbacks.

O’Brien has a promising record working with quarterbacks, including Tom Brady during his first stint on the New England Patriots’ coaching staff more than a decade ago.

O’Brien, 54, spent the 2023 season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in New England, following two seasons in the same role on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. He was the head coach of the Houston Texans (2014-20) and Penn State (2012-13) after experience as an assistant coach at both the pro and college levels.

At Alabama, the O’Brien-led offense averaged 39.9 and 41.1 points per game in his two seasons.

In 2023, Ohio State averaged 30.5 points per game, good for 44th in the nation. In 2022, the Buckeyes were second in the nation with 44.2 points per game.

The dropoff in points followed the shift from C.J. Stroud to Kyle McCord as starting quarterback.

In 2024, Ohio State’s quarterback depth chart will include Will Howard, formerly of Kansas State, and five-star recruit Air Noland, ranked as the nation’s No. 4 team by the 247Sports composite.

The offense will be boosted by the addition of two-time All-SEC tailback Quinshon Judkins, an Ole Miss transfer, as will as the returns of standout wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and running back TreVeyon Henderson.

–Field Level Media

Robert Kraft greets his QB Mac Jones as practice starts. Pats Camp 2

Patriots QB1 in Week 13? Ask Robert Kraft

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Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien perceives the QB call for the Patriots is coming from the top of the organization. In New England, that would imply owner Robert Kraft and not head coach Bill Belichick.

Asked about Mac Jones’ hold on the starting quarterback job entering Week 13, O’Brien said he doesn’t have a deciding vote.

“I don’t make those calls. There’s a chain of command. The chain of command is Robert Kraft at the top, Bill Belichick and the assistant coaches are down here,” O’Brien said Tuesday.

O’Brien said the Patriots (2-9) aren’t zeroing in on individual roles but rather focusing on collective preparation for the Los Angeles Chargers. New England has lost four consecutive games and went 1-7 in October and November.

After throwing two interceptions in Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants, Jones was benched in favor of Bailey Zappe.

O’Brien said he is responsible for the lack of production from the Patriots’ offense, not Jones.

“Things haven’t gone great for him this year,” O’Brien said of Jones. “I don’t think that he’s the No. 1 guy to blame. If you want to blame anyone, blame me. I’m the one who designs it, and it’s not going very well.”

Jones has been benched in four games this season. He has 10 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and two wins.

Asked Monday on WEEI if he expected to be the starter this week, Jones said, “You always ask me, right? I think the biggest thing for me is — that’s a result. I’m going to focus on the process this week. Focus on competing and getting better. That’s all I’ve ever done at every sport. I know that if I do that, we’ll be in good hands. That’s something I need to focus on as always. I do have confidence in myself, and I have confidence in the guys around me.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) and quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) talk with offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots OC implies starting QB is open for Week 12

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New England offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien left the door open Monday that Mac Jones might not be the starting quarterback in Week 12 for the 2-8 Patriots.

Meeting with reporters coming out of their bye week, O’Brien hinted that this week’s starter against the New York Giants (3-8) could be determined in practice.

“For me, I basically get everybody ready to play,” O’Brien said when asked if Jones was still the team’s starter. “At the end of the day, Bill (Belichick) will make that decision at some point and we’ll go from there.”

O’Brien said Jones still took first-team reps last week but said backup Bailey Zappe and third-string QB Will Grier also “rotated in there.”

“You have to strive for perfection on the practice field and then hopefully that leads to good execution in the games,” O’Brien said. “Right now, we haven’t had consistent enough execution in the games. … We have to have good practices, and then we can all determine, at every position, who should play the most.”

Jones was benched — again — in the Patriots’ ugly loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany on Nov. 12. The end of his day came after badly underthrowing an open Mike Gesicki in the end zone. It was the third time this season Jones has been yanked from a game.

O’Brien erupted at Jones earlier in the game on the sideline.

“I think that was just coaching in the moment,” O’Brien said. “That’s kinda the way I coach. Sometimes the way to get a point across is to be very demanding and very intense about it. That’s just the way I coach. That’s who I am. That’s how I’ve always coached. Sometimes that rubs certain players the wrong way. Sometimes players want that. I don’t want to speak for Mac, but I think Mac wants to be coached.”

Jones, 25, has thrown for 2,031 yards and 10 touchdowns against 10 interceptions this season. The Patriots picked him 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Aug 3, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien head to the practice fields for training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots OC Bill O’Brien has ‘a lot of belief’ in QB Mac Jones

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Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and the New England Patriots still believe in Mac Jones as their starting quarterback.

Jones was benched during New England’s 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but coach Bill Belichick said afterward Jones would remain the No. 1 signal-caller ahead of Bailey Zappe.

O’Brien backed up that stance when speaking to reporters Tuesday.

“He blames himself. The game wasn’t lost because of one guy,” O’Brien said. “The game was lost, on our part, because of how poorly we played and coached in the game.

“We have a lot of belief in Mac; I think he’ll get back to doing it the way he knows how to do it.”

Jones completed just 12 of 21 passes for 150 yards and threw two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. He also lost a fumble that Dallas returned to the end zone.

O’Brien said the Patriots let things get “out of hand” as the Cowboys’ defense started to stack big plays. Jones was running to avoid pressure and trying to extend the play when he was stripped.

“Some of the decisions that he made were very uncharacteristic of Mac,” O’Brien said. “He’s just trying to make a play, he’s wanting to win, he’s very competitive. I think you’ll see a lot of improvement in Mac as we keep moving forward here.”

O’Brien is in his first season back with the Patriots after working on New England’s offensive coaching staff from 2007-11.

On the season, Jones has completed 93 of 146 passes for 898 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. The Patriots have started the season 1-3, winning only a 15-10 squeaker over the New York Jets.

Jones — who was a first-round draft pick, a Pro Bowl selection and runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 — was also benched for Zappe during a loss to the Chicago Bears in 2022.

“Mac is a battler,” O’Brien said. “He’s a competitor. When you play quarterback in this league, you have to limit the mistakes and you have to limit the bad games that you have, obviously. We’re all in it together. We have to do a better job of coaching up some things with him a little bit better. He has to do a better job of making good decisions for us.”

–Field Level Media

New offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien watches quarterback Bryce Young take a snap during practice. The Alabama Crimson Tide opened practice for the 2021 season as they prepare to defend the 2020 National Championship Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.] Alabama First Practice

Patriots bring back Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator

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Bill O’Brien is returning to the New England Patriots as the team’s offensive coordinator, 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 at Alabama, a job he held the past two seasons, to step back into the role 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

Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien takes the field before a AFC Divisional Round playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Jaguars to interview Bill O’Brien

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to interview former NFL head coach Bill O’Brien on Thursday for their opening, NFL Network reported.

O’Brien served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator in 2021.

O’Brien, 52, went 52-48 in six-plus seasons as head coach of the Houston Texans. He was fired after an 0-4 start to the 2020 season. He took on the role as general manager in his last one-plus seasons in Houston, trading away DeAndre Hopkins in a controversial move. He led the Texans to the playoffs four times, going 2-4.

O’Brien also went 15-9 in two seasons as the head coach of Penn State.

The Carolina Panthers are reportedly interested in O’Brien for their offensive coordinator opening.

–Field Level Media