The New England Patriots have several candidates in mind for their vacant offensive coordinator position, but if the team is seeking someone who understands the fabled “Patriot Way,” one man, in particular, stands out.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots are interviewing Adrian Klemm. If the name sounds familiar to New England fans, it should. Klemm, who played six years in the NFL as an offensive lineman, was head coach Bill Belichick’s first-ever draft pick after beginning his reign with the team in 2000. (Klemm went in the second round, four rounds ahead of Tom Brady).
The Patriots are interviewing Adrian Klemm as part of their offensive coordinator search. Klemm, the first-ever draft pick of Bill Belichick’s Patriots regime, currently serves as associate head coach/run-game coordinator/o-line coach at Oregon. Former Steelers OL coach.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 18, 2023
Klemm went on to play five seasons in New England and was a member of three Super Bowl-winning teams before finishing his career with the Green Bay Packers.
Klemm is currently an associate head coach/run game coordinator for the Oregon Ducks. He also worked the 2021 season as an offensive line coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, after spending several seasons with the team as an assistant.
Ian Rapoport mentioned two more possible candidates Wednesday, notably Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who served as an assistant under Belichick from 2007-2011, including one season as offensive coordinator.
So if Belichick wants someone who’s been immersed in the values he’s instilled in the organization, Klemm and O’Brien definitely check that box. So does another possible candidate. The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Patriots tight end coach Nick Caley interviewed for the post on Wednesday.
New England also got permission from the Jacksonville Jaguars to interview wide receiver coach Keenan McCardell.
Patriots.com mentions one other possible intriguing candidate: former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
