After initial reports that Boston College was eyeing Bill O’Brien as their next head coach emerged on Thursday, the Eagles landed their top candidate less than 24 hours later. Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel and On3 Sports, O’Brien is set to become the next head coach for the Eagles.
Sources: Boston College is working toward a deal to hire Bill O’Brien as the school’s next head coach. A deal is expected soon, giving BC a well-regarded coach with extensive NFL experience and strong local ties. pic.twitter.com/WBh50h0GoP
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 9, 2024
O’Brien signed on to become the next offensive coordinator with the Ohio State Buckeyes last month but will leave the Big Ten three weeks later. The Buckeyes need to find another offensive play-caller, potentially marking a return for last season’s offensive coordinator, Brian Hartline.
Bill O’Brien: Set to Join Boston College
O’Brien operated as the New England Patriots offensive coordinator last year, but the two parted ways this offseason, opening the play-caller for new employment. The Patriots’ offense struggled mightily under O’Brien, scoring 13.9 points per game, the second-worst average in the NFL. The Ohio State Buckeyes landed the 54-year-old as their next play-caller, but the Boston College Eagles poached him away as their next head coach in less than a month.
Before New England, O’Brien was the offensive coordinator with the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2021 to 2022. The Crimson Tide, alongside Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, placed within the top ten in scoring offense each year with O’Brien as the play-caller. The Massachusetts native operated as the Houston Texans bench boss before his tenure with Alabama. O’Brien led the AFC South club from 2014 to 2020, going 52-48, including making the postseason four times. However, he went just 2-4 as an NFL head coach during the playoffs. Additionally, O’Brien held the Penn State Nittany Lions head coaching gig from 2012 to 2013. They went 15-9 during his stay.
Bill O’Brien: Tasked With Leading Boston College Eagles Next Season
By landing the Boston College head coaching job, Bill O’Brien will lead his third team across his storied coaching career. O’Brien replaced longtime BC head coach Jeff Hafley, who took the defensive coordinator position with the Green Bay Packers. However, the Eagles went only 22-26 during Hafley’s four-year tenure. Boston College scored just 24.8 points per game last season, the 82nd-best average in college football. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos finished the season with 2,248 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 picks. However, he ran for a remarkable 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns. Castellanos remains atop the BC depth chart for next season.
With his two-year stint with the Alabama Crimson Tide, O’Brien has ample exposure to the transfer portal and NIL. The college football landscape drastically shifted after the NCAA allowed player compensation and lessened the restrictions around the transfer portal over the past few seasons.
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