One of the top offensive coordinator candidates in this year’s coaching carousel has met with the Patriots, we learned on Friday. However, the team will have serious competition in hiring him.

According to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the Patriots have interviewed Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson for their offensive coordinator opening. Johnson has received a lot of attention this coaching cycle after his work with rookie Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.

READ MORE:

—What the latest head coaching hire could mean for the Patriots and Bill Belichick
—Don’t count out one familiar face in the Patriots’ OC search
—Jerod Mayo talks ‘titles’

The Patriots have been one of many stops for Johnson, according to Jones. He’s also interviewed with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and will interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday. There’s also a chance he could end up staying in Houston via promotion, with current Texans’ offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik considered a top candidate for head coaching jobs this cycle.

Johnson’s stock is high after just one year in his current role in Houston. He’s had a quick rise up the coaching ranks. After an eight-year pro career as a quarterback Johnson took part in the Bill Walsh Diversity coaching fellowship with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 and the Indianapolis Colts in 2019. The Colts then hired him as a quality control coach in 2020, and in 2022 he joined the Vikings as an assistant quarterbacks coach for one year before being hired by the Texans.

• ---

  If they were to hire him, Johnson would check multiple boxes for the Patriots. Not only has he proven himself as a quarterback developer, but he’s familiar with the Shanahan and McVay offensive systems the Patriots seem to be targeting. Just about every offensive coordinator candidate the Patriots have interviewed has experience in at least one of the two, and Johnson has both – having worked for Kevin O’Connell (who was previously a Rams assistant under McVay) in Minnesota before joining the Texans where he worked under Slowik (a former 49ers assistant).

  In addition to Johnson, Jones also reported the Patriots have interviewed current Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown for their OC job. While Brown is technically currently employed, the coaching change in Carolina likely means a new staff is coming in leaving Brown looking for his next role.

  Like many of the other candidates for the Patriots, Brown comes out of the McVay coaching tree. After spending the first decade of his coaching career at the college level, Brown was hired by the Rams as a running backs coach (the position he played in the NFL from 2008-2010) in 2020. The next year he was named an assistant head coach, and switched to coaching tight ends in 2022 before being hired by Carolina last year.

  With Johnson and Brown now on the list, the Patriots have interviewed a total of six potential offensive coordinators (although two have since taken other jobs). You can follow the full list of interviews for all three coordinator jobs with our Patriots coaching staff tracker here.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

Sign me up for the 98.5 The Sports Hub email newsletter!

Get the latest Boston sports news and analysis, plus exclusive on-demand content and special giveaways from Boston's Home for Sports, 98.5 The Sports Hub.

First Name *

Last Name

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.