New England Patriots to Interview Arizona Cardinals Wide Receivers Coach for OC

The New England Patriots are looking at another wide receiver coach for their offensive coordinator vacancy. According to NFL Insider Josina Anderson, the team will interview Arizona Cardinals wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.

I'm told #Cardinals associate head coach & wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson is interviewing for the #Patriots OC job on Friday, per league source.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 19, 2023

Jefferson played wide receiver in the NFL from 1991 to 2003, including for the Patriots from 1996-1999, an era in which Bill Belichick served as assistant head coach for the team. Jefferson earned his first role as a wide receivers coach in 2008 with the Detroit Lions. He has served in the same role for the Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals.

The 2022 Patriots missed the playoffs for only the fifth time since head coach Bill Belichick's arrival in 2000. An offense that ranked 17th in points scored and 26th in yards gained was largely to blame. The Patriots declined to name an offensive coordinator last season, instead splitting the duties between offensive line coach Matt Patricia and quarterbacks coach Joe Judge. Clearly, they're opting for a more traditional route in 2023. The Patriots also interviewed Minnesota Vikings wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell earlier in the week.

Jefferson hasn't been a part of many great offenses in his career; he has one top-10 scoring offense to his credit, the 2011 Detroit Lions. He does, however, have an existing relationship with Belichick working for him. That can go a long way. Patricia had never coached offense at any level before Belichick handed him play-calling and offensive line coaching duties in 2022.