McDaniels leaving Rams

Returning to Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -Josh McDaniels is returning to the New England Patriots to take over as offensive coordinator next season for Bill O'Brien, who was introduced Saturday as Penn State's new coach.

McDaniels would work throughout the playoffs with O'Brien. McDaniels was offensive coordinator with the Patriots from 2006 to 2008, then became head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009 until being fired with a 3-9 record in 2010.

This season he was offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams scored the fewest points per game in the league, 12.1, gained the second fewest yards, 283.6, and the third fewest yards passing, 179.4. Sam Bradford struggled at quarterback with just six touchdown passes and six interceptions in McDaniels' system, which had many more longer developing pass plays than the Rams had in 2010 under Pat Shurmur.