Odds Now Favor Josh McDaniels to Be Next Head Coach of Both Browns and Giants; Is He a Fit for Either?

• Oddsmakers currently lists Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels as the +200 favorite to be the next head coach of the New York Giants
• The sportsbook also pegs McDaniels as the +200 chalk to be the next coach of the Cleveland Browns
• Oddsmakers also listed McDaniels as favorite to coach the Dallas Cowboys – read below for our prediction to where he might land

When it comes to available positions as an NFL coach, it wouldn’t be correct to suggest that Josh McDaniels is the flavor of the month.

In point of fact, McDaniels is the flavor of every month.

Oddsmakers currently lists McDaniels, the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, as the +200 favorite to gain the available head coaching position with the Cleveland Browns. At the same time, the sportsbook also has set McDaniels as the +200 chalk to be the next head coach of the New York Giants.

Cleveland Browns/New York Giants Head Coach Odds

Odds taken Jan. 1st .

McDaniels held the head coaching position of the Denver Broncos from 2009-10, going 11-17.

Is McDaniels a Josh of All Trades?

McDaniels might be good but is he really good enough to coach two NFL teams at once? But wait – there’s more.

Last month, oddsmakers set McDaniels as the +300 first betting choice to be the next coach of the Dallas Cowboys.  In October, McDaniels was listed as the +350 favorite in a speculative prop wager as to who would be the next coach of the Atlanta Falcons were Dan Quinn to be fired.

Cleveland Browns requested permission to interview Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels for their head-coaching vacancy, per source. Panthers also expected to request interview.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2019

Well, we know he won’t be getting that job. The Falcons recently announced that Quinn would be back.

Is it deja vu all over again? Last season at this time, McDaniels was established as favorite to get the open head coaching spots with both the Green Bay Packers and the Browns.

He landed neither position.

Along with the Giants and Browns, this season, McDaniels is also being courted by the Carolina Panthers.

Will He Bolt Like the Colts?

Following the 2017 season, McDaniels accepted the head coaching position with the Indianapolis Colts. A press conference to introduce McDaniels as the new coach of the team was slated for the Wednesday following New England’s Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

A private plane was dispatched to pick up McDaniels and jet him to Indy. The Colts tweeted the news that he was their new coach.

Remember all those talking heads that said no one would ever want Josh McDaniels as a HC after he backed out of deal with Colts……….yeah me neither…

— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) December 30, 2019

Sensing that McDaniels was having second thoughts, Patriots coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft made a last-ditch effort to convince McDaniels to stay, and it worked.

The night before the press conference, McDaniels contacted Colts general manager Chris Ballard and told him he’d changed his mind. Instead, McDaniels signed a five-year deal to stay on as Patriots’ offensive coordinator, with a significant raise in pay.

Who Will Rhule Over Giants?

McDaniels and the Giants is a marriage that just doesn’t add up. The Giants interviewed him two years ago, and opted instead to hire the disaster that was Pat Shurmur.

While he’s on their list again this time around and an interview has been okayed by the Patriots, what more are they going to learn about him that wasn’t gleaned from the sit down two years ago?

And so two of the prime candidates for the Giants' HC job will be Baylor HC Matt Rhule and Patriots' OC Josh McDaniels

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2019

Those with knowledge of the Giants situation insist that McDaniels isn’t a realistic contender at this point. Baylor coach Matt Rhule, a former Giants assistant, remains the frontrunner to land the job if he wants it.

Reached out to a league source about Baylor HC Matt Rhule. Strong belief the #Giants are his “dream job”

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) December 30, 2019

A close second would be former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, but he’s also a strong contender to be the next boss in Carolina.

The Giants also like Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale more than they do McDaniels.

Pick: Matt Rhule (+300).

Browns Make the Most Sense

The best fit for McDaniels is clearly in Cleveland. And with the way things are happening there, it sure looks like the Browns are paving a path for him to take charge.

Browns will prioritizing hiring a head coach before general manager, I'm told, because they want the head coach to have a strong connection with the new GM. That could pave the way for Josh McDaniels or others to partner up with somebody.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 1, 2020

The removal of head coach Freddie Kitchens wasn’t the least bit shocking but the dismissal of GM John Dorsey most certainly was a surprise.

However, by removing their GM, the Browns just made the coaching position in Cleveland more appealing. Dorsey and Ballard are good friends, so the likelihood of Dorsey hiring McDaniels would’ve been slim.

Don't be surprised if Browns target Josh McDaniels and hand him Belichick-like role with complete control of the groceries and menu.

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) December 31, 2019

McDaniels is from Ohio and speculation is that he’ll bring Patriots director of player personnel and fellow Ohioan Nick Caserio with him if he gets the Cleveland job.

Pick: Josh McDaniels (+200)